The 97th Academy Awards electrified the Dolby Theatre with an evening of historic moments, emotional victories, and a celebration of cinema from around the world. Hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the glitzy ceremony celebrated the finest films of 2024 and produced one of the most memorable Oscars in years.
Anora Conquers the Night
Anora took the top prize and was a hard indie drama directed by Sean Baker. The film swept five of the highest categories, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay.
Sean Baker’s four-victory evening puts him in with the legends—he is now only the second Oscar winner in history to be honored with four awards on the same night for the same film, a feat previously achieved only by Walt Disney (albeit on more than one project).
Acting Awards Showcase New and Experienced Talent
Adrien Brody took home his second Oscar, Best Actor for his frightening work in The Brutalist, more than 20 years after his first win for The Pianist. Mikey Madison, meanwhile, became the first Generation Z to win an Oscar when she portrayed complex title character Anora.
In supporting categories, the Best Supporting Actress award went to Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez, the very first Dominican American to receive an Oscar. The Best Supporting Actor award went to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain, solidifying him as the TV heartthrob who had become a bonafide film star.
Global and Independent Cinema Shine
This year’s Academy Awards were a turning point for the Academy’s embracing of international and independent film. Brazil took home its first ever Best International Feature Film for I’m Still Here, an inspiring story of perseverance.
Flow, an independent Latvian animation, won Best Animated Feature, becoming the first Latvian and first independent animated film to do so. It’s also the third year in a row that the award has been given out to a non-Disney/Pixar production.
No Other Land made waves in the documentary category as the first Oscar ever by a Palestinian film. Basel Adra was the first Palestinian Academy winner as a director, and the film brought attention to Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
Notable Craft and Design Wins
Best Cinematography: Lol Crawley, The Brutalist
Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Wicked – the first Black man to be so honored
Best Production Design: Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
Best Original Song: “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez
Short films also received their due recognition:
Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Best Live Action Short: I’m Not a Robot
Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Ceremony Highlights and Milestones
For the first time ever, the Oscars were live-streamed on Hulu in addition to their regular ABC broadcast, with nearly 20 million viewers tuning in—a sign of the show’s shifting digital popularity.
The most-nominated foreign-language film in history was Emilia Pérez with 13 nominations.
The evening was marked by embracing diversity, unapologetic storytelling, and powerful representation. From historic wins for formerly marginalized groups to a shift of attention toward independent and international filmmakers, the 2025 Oscars made it clear that the movie industry—and the Academy—are shifting at lightening pace.
As the curtain fell on the 97th Academy Awards, it was clear: the future of cinema is more diverse, more inclusive, and more exciting than ever.
Full List of Major Winners:
Category\tWinner\tFilm
Best Picture\tAnora\t
Best Director\tSean Baker\tAnora
Best Actress\tMikey Madison\tAnora
Best Actor\tAdrien Brody\tThe Brutalist
Best Supporting Actress\tZoe Saldaña\tEmilia Pérez
Best Supporting Actor\tKieran Culkin\tA Real Pain
Best Original Screenplay\tSean Baker\tAnora
Best Adapted Screenplay\tPeter Straughan\tConclave
Best International Film\tI’m Still Here\t(Brazil)
Best Documentary Feature\tNo Other Land\t
Best Animated Feature\tFlow\t
The 97th Oscars were more than an awards ceremony— they were a proclamation of where film has been, and where it’s going boldly.
