Sean Baker was the star of the night, taking home awards for Best Screenplay, Editing, and Direction, cementing his status as one of the most daring filmmakers of today.
Despite widespread anticipation for ‘The Substance‘s’ victory, ‘Anora‘ delivered a major surprise at the 2025 Academy Awards, claiming the coveted Best Picture award and propelling independent cinema to new heights with a total of five Oscars. Meanwhile, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in ‘The Brutalist‘, and Mikey Madison shocked audiences by securing the Best Actress award, surpassing contenders like Demi Moore and Karla Sofía Gascón. The latter, a frontrunner for her work in ‘Emilia Pérez‘, watched from the audience as her film failed to achieve the expected recognition, falling short of predictions.
Beyond its triumph at the ceremony, ‘Anora‘ represents the growing prominence of cinema that challenges Hollywood norms. The film, a raw and disenchanted take on the Cinderella story, follows a sex worker who impulsively marries the heir of a Russian mafia family in Las Vegas. However, when reality sets in, dreams crumble, resulting in a visceral, intense, and deeply moving narrative.
Since winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, ‘Anora‘ had been steadily gaining momentum, culminating in its victory as the night’s biggest winner. Its success not only honours Baker’s work but also reaffirms the power of independent filmmaking that refuses to conform to the commercial demands of the industry.
One of the night’s biggest contrasts was the fate of ‘Emilia Pérez‘, which entered the ceremony as a major contender with 16 nominations. However, the film walked away with only two awards: Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for ‘El Mal‘. The controversy surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón and online debates may have played a role in this unexpected setback.
Among the other notable winners, ‘The Brutalist‘ earned well-deserved recognition, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody, Best Cinematography for Lol Crawley, and Best Original Score for Daniel Blumberg. The film, a hypnotic journey through architecture and history, reinforced its reputation as a visionary work.
Meanwhile, Coralie Fargeat’s ‘The Substance‘ was recognised for Best Makeup, though its lead actress, Demi Moore, emerged as one of the night’s biggest disappointments. ‘Wicked‘ made its mark with awards for Costume Design and Production Design, while ‘Dune: Part Two‘ dominated the technical categories, winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.
