Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre played host to Hollywood’s biggest night as the 97th Academy Awards kicked off in grand fashion. With Emilia Pérez leading the nominations with 13 nods, followed closely by Wicked and The Brutalist with 10 each, anticipation was high for a night full of surprises.
The ceremony opened with a powerful musical moment as Wicked star Ariana Grande performed a stirring rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, following a visual tribute to the city of Los Angeles. But as the night unfolded, it was Anora that emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, sweeping five Academy Awards, including the coveted Best Picture prize.
In a night filled with surprises, 25-year-old Mikey Madison delivered one of the biggest shocks at the 97th Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for her role in Anora. The rising star’s victory places her among the youngest winners in Oscar history, securing her spot as the ninth-youngest actress ever to claim the prestigious award. She triumphed over strong contenders, including heavy favourite Demi Moore (The Substance), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here), and the controversial Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez).
Anora creator Sean Baker won best director, best picture and two other Academy Awards at the Oscars, bookending a dominant awards season for the American filmmaker whose stories seek to humanize sex workers and immigrants. Baker, wrote, produced, directed and edited the most dominant film of the night. The comedy-drama stars Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch. The film swept five overall wins — two more than “The Brutalist.
Adrien Brody completed his Hollywood resurgence, winning his second Best Actor Oscar for his gripping portrayal of a Hungarian architect rebuilding his life in America after World War II in The Brutalist. His victory solidifies his return to the top ranks of the film industry
Kieran Culkin took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his performance in A Real Pain. History was made with Zoe Saldana taking home the Best Supporting Actress award. "I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last," she said. In the costume design category, as Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win the Oscar for his stunning work on Wicked.
Meanwhile, in the Best Live Action Short category, the Dutch-language sci-fi film I'm Not a Robot, directed by Victoria Warmerdam, edged out the competition, including the New Delhi-set coming-of-age short Anuja.
Namit Malhotra, part of the Dune: Part Two, team that won the Best Visual Effects Oscar, secured its 7th win for India and 8th overall with a win. In a statement to the media, he expressed his gratitude and excitement, stating, “For our team to be honored with this year’s Oscar for Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two is an incredible achievement and another milestone in our journey. This recognition by the Academy—our eighth VFX Oscar since 2011—is another endorsement of the creative and technical leadership of our teams here at DNEG.”
He added, “My heartfelt thanks to Denis Villeneuve for his vision and leadership, and to Paul Lambert, Greig Fraser, and other key members of the filmmaking team. Special thanks also to Mary Parent and the team at Legendary, and to everyone at Warner Bros. for once again giving us the opportunity to be a part of bringing this incredible story to the big screen. And huge congratulations and thanks to the thousands of DNEG artists, technicians, and support staff around the world, who all share this honor.”
In the animated categories, Flow triumphed over The Wild Robot for Best Animated Feature, while In the Shadow of the Cypress won Best Animated Short.
Check out the Complete Winners' List below:
Best Picture
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Best Director
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora - WINNER
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Best Actor In A Lead Role
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist - WINNER
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Best Actress In A Lead Role
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora - WINNER
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Best Actor In A Supporting Role
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain - WINNER
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Best Actress In A Supporting Role
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez - WINNER
Original Screenplay
Anora - WINNER
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Adapted Screenplay
Conclave - WINNER
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
Animated Feature
Flow - WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Production Design
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Wicked - WINNER
Costume Design
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu
Wicked - WINNER
Cinematography
The Brutalist - WINNER
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Film Editing
Anora - WINNER
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Makeup And Hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance - WINNER
Wicked
Sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two - WINNER
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Original Score
The Brutalist - WINNER
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Original Song
"El Mal" (Emilia Pérez) - WINNER
"The Journey" (The Six Triple Eight)
"Like A Bird" (Sing Sing)
"Mi Camino" (Emilia Pérez)
"Never Too Late" (Elton John: Never Too Late)
Documentary Feature
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land - WINNER
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane
International Feature
I’m Still Here, Brazil
The Girl With the Needle, Denmark
Emilia Pérez, France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Germany
Flow, Latvia
Animated Short
Beautiful Men
In the Shadow of the Cypress - WINNER
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Documentary Short
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra - WINNER
Live-Action Short
A Lien
Anuja
I’m Not a Robot - WINNER
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
With stunning performances, historic wins, and unexpected upsets, the 97th Academy Awards proved to be a night to remember in Hollywood.
