Anora’s Triumph at the 97th Academy Awards: A Historic Night

The 97th annual Academy Awards saw the low-budget comedy *Anora* emerge as the night’s biggest winner, securing five awards, including Best Picture. The film’s success marked a significant moment, contrasting with the previous year’s dominance of blockbuster films. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, was filled with memorable moments and historic wins.

Major Wins for Anora

*Anora*’s success was largely attributed to Sean Baker, who won four Oscars for the film, a feat that made history. Baker took home awards for writing, directing, editing, and producing *Anora*. Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in the film, portraying a sex worker who marries a Russian playboy. Both Baker and Madison dedicated their wins to the sex worker community portrayed in the film.

Other Notable Wins

Adrien Brody won Best Actor for *The Brutalist*, marking his second Oscar win. *Emilia Pérez* received 13 nominations and won two awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña. *I’m Still Here* won Best International Feature, a first for Brazil. Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for *A Real Pain*, and *Flow* won Best Animated Feature, marking a historic win for Latvia. Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win for Costume Design for *Wicked*.

Key Moments and Highlights

The awards ceremony included several memorable moments. *No Other Land*’s win for Best Documentary Feature was particularly poignant, with the Israeli and Palestinian directors delivering a powerful speech about violence and displacement in the West Bank. Mick Jagger presented Best Original Song, and Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman. The ceremony commenced with an ode to Los Angeles and performances by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, with O’Brien acknowledging the city’s resilience amidst recent wildfires and honoring below-the-line industry workers.

Additional Highlights

• Best Adapted Screenplay: *Conclave*, despite being a strong contender, only won in this category.
• Karla Sofia Gascón: The lead actress in *Emilia Pérez* and the first openly transgender nominee, was present amidst controversy surrounding resurfaced tweets.