LOS ANGELES (Thechieftainspear) — The 97th Academy Awards delivered an unpredictable and competitive night, with multiple films taking home significant honors. “Anora,” the Brooklyn-set dramedy, won Best Picture, marking a career-defining moment for director Sean Baker. Other major winners included “The Brutalist,” “Conclave,” “Wicked,” and “The Substance”, highlighting a diverse range of stories and artistic styles.
With eight of the ten Best Picture nominees securing at least one award, the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night ended on an exciting note. Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez”, despite facing controversy surrounding lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón, won a key acting award, proving its resilience in the race.
Mikey Madison Wins Best Actress for ‘Anora’
Mikey Madison, best known for her television role in Better Things, won Best Actress for her performance in Anora. The film, which follows a stripper who unexpectedly marries a Russian oligarch’s son, was one of the night’s most celebrated films, earning six nominations in total. Madison, at just 25 years old, has now firmly established herself in Hollywood after supporting roles in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Scream (2022).
Sean Baker Triumphs with Three Wins for ‘Anora’
Director Sean Baker had a standout night, winning Best Director and Best Original Screenplay in addition to Anora’s Best Picture win. Known for his raw and deeply human storytelling, Baker’s success at this year’s Oscars cements his reputation as a filmmaker who sheds light on marginalized communities, particularly sex workers and immigrants. His indie hit, produced on a $6 million budget, has gone on to gross over $40 million worldwide.
Adrien Brody Secures Second Oscar for ‘The Brutalist’
Two decades after winning his first Oscar for The Pianist, Adrien Brody returned to the winner’s circle, taking Best Actor for his performance in The Brutalist. The film spans 30 years, chronicling the life of Lázló Tóth, a Hungarian architect who survives the Holocaust and moves to America in pursuit of his dream.
‘The Brutalist’ Earns Best Original Score
First-time Oscar nominee Daniel Blumberg won Best Original Score for his work on The Brutalist, beating out composers for Emilia Pérez, The Wild Robot, Conclave, and Wicked. Blumberg, in his acceptance speech, called director Brady Corbet his “artistic soulmate.”
‘I’m Still Here’ Wins Best International Film
Brazilian drama “I’m Still Here”, directed by Walter Salles, won Best International Film for its harrowing depiction of a family’s struggle under Brazil’s military dictatorship. The film stars Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, whose husband—a leftist politician—is taken by authorities in 1971 and never seen again.
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‘No Other Land’ Wins Best Documentary
The Oscar for Best Documentary went to No Other Land, a gripping account of Palestinian activists resisting demolition efforts by the Israeli military. The film follows Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist documenting the destruction of his village, and his unlikely alliance with a Jewish Israeli journalist.
‘El Mal’ Wins Best Original Song
French composers Clément Ducol and Camille secured the Best Original Song award for El Mal from the film Emilia Pérez. The track, which also won a Golden Globe, was described in the acceptance speech as a condemnation of corruption.
Zoe Saldaña Wins First Oscar for ‘Emilia Pérez’
After an impressive awards season, Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, following victories at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics Choice Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
‘Conclave’ Wins Best Adapted Screenplay
The tense political drama “Conclave”, adapted from Robert Harris’ novel by British screenwriter Peter Straughan, took home the Best Adapted Screenplay award. Straughan, known for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, is a veteran of the thriller genre.
Paul Tazewell Becomes First Black Winner of Best Costume Design
With a standing ovation, Paul Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design, for his work on Wicked. The film also won Best Production Design, while The Substance took home Best Makeup and Hairstyling for its strikingly grotesque effects.
Iranian Short ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress’ Wins Best Animated Short
Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi won Best Animated Short for In the Shadow of the Cypress, a moving father-daughter story centered on PTSD and memory.
Latvia’s ‘Flow’ Wins Best Animated Feature
Latvia’s Gints Zilbalodis stunned audiences by winning Best Animated Feature for Flow, a beautifully rendered, dialogue-free story about animals surviving a flood. The film, created using the open-source software Blender, beat out DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot.
Kieran Culkin Completes Awards Sweep for Best Supporting Actor
After dominating the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, SAG Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards, Kieran Culkin capped off his winning streak by taking Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. He edged out Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Yura Borisov (Anora), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice).
A Night of Surprises and Historic Wins
This year’s Oscars celebrated a wide range of voices and stories, from intimate dramas to bold spectacles. With winners spanning independent cinema, international storytelling, and blockbuster filmmaking, the 97th Academy Awards proved to be one of the most exciting ceremonies in recent memory.
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