(Thechieftainspear) – Filmmaker Sean Baker had an unforgettable night at the Academy Awards, as his film Anora emerged as the biggest winner, earning him four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. The critically acclaimed comedy-drama, which explores themes of class, love, and power, follows a Brooklyn exotic dancer who hastily weds the reckless son of a Russian oligarch during a ketamine-fueled trip to Las Vegas—only to face the wrath of his powerful family.
Baker, 53, not only directed Anora but also wrote, produced, and edited the film, making history with his impressive haul. His four wins tie him with Walt Disney for the most Oscars awarded to a single individual in one night, though Baker achieved this feat with a single film. Anora ultimately took home five awards in total, surpassing The Brutalist in overall wins.
His recognition on Sunday follows a dominant awards season, where he picked up top honors at the Directors Guild of America Awards, the Producers Guild Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards. In his acceptance speech for Best Director, Baker delivered an impassioned plea for the preservation of the traditional moviegoing experience, emphasizing its importance in bringing people together.
“This is more than just entertainment—it’s a communal experience,” he said. “If we let it slip away, we’ll be losing something essential to our culture.”
Quentin Tarantino, who presented Baker with the Best Director award, was instrumental in shaping the film’s trajectory. Baker credited him for casting lead actress Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019), stating that Anora would not have existed without that opportunity. Madison, who won her first Oscar for her role in Anora, expressed deep gratitude to Baker.
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“Sean, this is all because of you,” she said during her acceptance speech.
The Best Director category was particularly unique this year, featuring an all-new lineup of nominees for the first time in nearly three decades. Each contender also had a writing credit on their respective films, signaling the Academy’s increasing appreciation for filmmakers with distinct creative visions. Baker triumphed over Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance).
Anora marks a shift in Baker’s career, taking his signature blend of raw storytelling and humor from the indie scene into the mainstream. Despite its modest $6 million budget—a fraction of last year’s Best Picture winner Oppenheimer—the film captivated audiences and critics alike. Baker has long been a champion of independent filmmaking, often speaking out about the struggles of sustaining the art form in an industry dominated by large-scale productions.
He has also been a vocal advocate for destigmatizing sex work, a recurring theme in his work. From Tangerine (2015), shot on an iPhone, to The Florida Project (2017) and Red Rocket (2021), Baker’s films shine a light on marginalized communities through a compassionate lens.
Beyond Baker and Madison, Anora’s success extended to its production team, with producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan—who is also Baker’s wife—joining him in receiving the Best Picture Oscar.
With Anora’s remarkable success, Baker hopes it will pave the way for greater support of independent cinema, ensuring that unique and daring stories continue to find their place on the big screen .
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