The 2025 Academy Awards came to a close with Anora, a film by Sean Baker, winning big by taking home five awards, including Best Picture.
Anora tells the story of a whirlwind marriage between an ambitious sex worker and the spoiled son of a Russian billionaire. It was a big night for the film, with Baker also winning Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
This win wasn’t a big surprise. Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where it won the prestigious Palme d’Or, Anora has received numerous accolades, including the top feature film award from the Producers Guild of America. The PGA win is often a strong indicator of a Best Picture Oscar win, as both the PGA and the Academy have overlapping voting members. In the last ten years, seven films that won the PGA also went on to win Best Picture.
Baker has built a reputation for telling unique stories about people living on the fringes of society, with previous films like Tangerine and The Florida Project. With Anora, he gained wider recognition, helped by buzz and a strong performance from Oscar winner Mikey Madison.
“I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film,” Baker said in his final acceptance speech. “This film was made with the blood, sweat, and tears of incredible indie artists, and—um—long live independent film!”
Conan O’Brien hosted the Oscars this year, replacing Jimmy Kimmel.
In other major wins, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, a controversial musical, earned 13 nominations but only walked away with two awards. Lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón attended the ceremony after being involved in a controversy over a racist tweet earlier in the awards season.
Adrien Brody won his second Best Actor award for his role in The Brutalist, while Mikey Madison claimed Best Actress for Anora. Kieran Culkin of Succession won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez.
Morgan Freeman also honored the late Gene Hackman, whose death at 95 is still under investigation.
