The 97th Academy Awards were held in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
They delivered a major surprise as Anora, an independent film, won Best Picture. Its director, Sean Baker, urged audiences to support cinemas instead of streaming services. The film’s lead actress, Mikey Madison, also won Best Actress, unexpectedly beating frontrunner Demi Moore.
Madison said “I will continue to support and be an ally”. She also praised her fellow nominees, including Moore, calling their work “beautiful” and “breathtaking.”
Sean Baker dominated the night, also winning Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. He spoke passionately about keeping movie theatres alive. “Where did we fall in love with movies? At the movie theatre,” he said, encouraging parents to introduce their children to the big screen experience.
Other notable winners included Adrien Brody, who won his second Oscar for Best Actor in The Brutalist, a four-hour historical drama. He called for a “happier, healthier, and more inclusive world” in his speech. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Perez, making history as the first American of Dominican origin to receive an Oscar.
New Zealand’s Wētā FX had three nominations for Best Visual Effects but lost to Dune: Part 2. Despite this, the team celebrated their historic recognition.
The evening, hosted by Conan O’Brien, went smoothly without major incidents. Emotional moments included Morgan Freeman’s tribute to the late actor Gene Hackman and a standing ovation for first responders to California’s recent wildfires.
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