The 97th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating the finest achievements in cinema over the past year.
Independent drama Anora emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing multiple top honours, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Director for Sean Baker, and Best Original Screenplay.
The star-studded event saw veteran actor Adrien Brody winning Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, while Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) and Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) took home Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor awards, respectively.
Key wins and surprises
One of the standout moments of the night was the Best International Feature award for Brazil’s I’m Still Here, which edged out strong contenders from Denmark, France, Germany, and Latvia. Meanwhile, Flow secured the Best Animated Feature award, surpassing Pixar’s highly anticipated Inside Out 2.
In the screenplay categories, Conclave won Best Adapted Screenplay, penned by Peter Straughan, while Anora took home Best Original Screenplay. The Best Original Song award went to El Mal from Emilia Pérez, further cementing the musical’s strong presence in this year’s Oscars.
The technical categories saw notable victories, with Dune: Part Two winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, while The Brutalist secured Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. The highly anticipated musical Wicked won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, demonstrating its grandeur on the big screen.
Horror-thriller The Substance, starring Demi Moore, was also recognised, winning Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Full list of major winners
- Best Picture: Anora
- Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Animated Feature: Flow
- Best Original Screenplay: Anora – Sean Baker
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave – Peter Straughan
- Best Original Song: El Mal (Emilia Pérez)
- Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
- Best Film Editing: Anora
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
Hollywood Celebrates Another Year of Excellence
This year’s Oscars showcased a diverse range of films, from gripping dramas to bold musical productions. The dominance of Anora,The Brutalist, and Emilia Pérez highlights the industry’s evolving landscape, where independent cinema and international storytelling continue to make their mark.
