The complete list of winners at the 97th annual Academy Awards.

“Oscars 2025: Anora’s Historic Sweep, Social Justice Advocacy, and Diversity Milestones Shine Bright”

Anora puts sex workers’ humanity in the spotlight

With its five wins, Anora also cast a spotlight on a misunderstood and often stereotyped community: sex workers.

The film follows the story of a Russian American stripper named Anora, who lives a precarious existence in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. When the young son of a Russian oligarch takes a shine to her, Anora starts to imagine a better life for herself — and when he proposes marriage, she accepts.

But things fall apart when the young man’s parents demand the marriage be annulled — and the son flees, leaving Anora to confront the consequences alone.

This is not the first film from director Sean Baker to focus on sex workers. His 2015 film Tangerine, shot entirely on iPhones, follows a pair of transgender sex workers on Christmas Eve. It proved to be one of his breakout hits.

Baker acknowledged the ways sex workers and other people on the margins of society shaped his work in one of his many acceptance speeches on Sunday night.

Oscars 2025 Celebrates Cinematic Brilliance with Anora’s Triumph and Bold Social Statements

The 97th Academy Awards delivered a night of groundbreaking wins, emotional speeches, and a resounding victory for indie film Anora, which claimed five Oscars, including Best Picture. From historic firsts to poignant calls for justice, here’s a breakdown of the highlights that defined Hollywood’s biggest night.

Anora’s Indie Dominance: A Record-Breaking Night

The indie sensation Anora captivated the Academy, winning Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. Defeating big-budget contenders like Emilia Perez and Wicked (each with 13 and 10 nominations), Anora became the underdog story of Oscars 2024.

Sean Baker’s Cinematic Legacy

Director Sean Baker made history by becoming the first artist to win four Oscars for a single film. In his acceptance speech, Baker paid tribute to marginalized communities: “To the sex worker community—your stories shaped this film. My deepest respect.” His win underscored the power of authentic storytelling, echoing his earlier work in Tangerine.

No Other Land: A Stirring Win for Palestinian Voices
The surprise Best Documentary Feature winner, No Other Land, spotlighted Israel’s displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta. Directors Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham used their platform to condemn ongoing violence: “We call for justice to end the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,” Adra declared. The film’s U.S. release hurdles highlighted systemic challenges, yet its Oscar victory amplified global awareness.

Diversity Milestones: Breaking Barriers at the Oscars

Paul Tazewell’s Costume Design Triumph
Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for Wicked. Fighting tears, he said, “This honor is a beacon for future generations of artists of color.”

Zoe Saldana’s Bilingual Breakthrough
Zoe Saldana earned Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Perez, marking her as the first Dominican-American Oscar winner. “This is for my abuela,” she shared, celebrating her roots and the film’s Spanish-language narrative.

Advocacy Onstage: Justice, Democracy, and Unity
Winners used the Oscars’ global platform to address pressing issues:

• Adrien Brody (Best Actor, The Brutalist) reflected on his Holocaust-themed roles: “We must never let hate go unchecked.”
• Walter Salles, director of Brazil’s Best International Feature I’m Still Here, honored victims of authoritarianism: “This award is for resilience against oppression.”
• Host Conan O’Brien cheekily jabbed at U.S.-Russia relations: “Americans love seeing someone stand up to a powerful Russian!”

The Oscars’ Plea to Save Cinemas
Amstid Hollywood’s post-pandemic slump (2024 U.S. box office: $8.6B), Sean Baker urged support for theaters: “The communal magic of cinema is irreplaceable.” Adrien Brody echoed the sentiment, warning, “This industry’s fragility demands we cherish every story.”

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