Independent film Anora swept the Oscars 2025 on Sunday, winning five awards including best picture and best actress for lead star Mikey Madison.
Anora is a romantic comedy-drama film produced, written, directed, and edited by Sean Baker. It follows the beleaguered marriage between Anora Mikheeva (Mikey Madison), a sex worker, and Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch. The supporting cast includes Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Aleksei Serebryakov.
Best Actress winner Mikey Madison at the 97th #Oscars
Photo Credit: Roger Kisby pic.twitter.com/jxmC7UH1fF
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
Anora premiered on May 21, 2024, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, and was released theatrically on October 18 by Neon. It grossed $41 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, becoming Baker’s highest-grossing film.
Baker said he wants to thank the Academy for recognizing “a truly independent film – long live independent film!”
Smaller production companies produce Independent films. They do not follow the same formula as studio films, which means instead, they can vary in style and genre.
Baker is behind films such as The Florida Project and is used to working on smaller budgets, often telling the stories of sex workers.
Regarding the win, producer Alex Coco said: “We made this movie for $6m (£4.7m). Shooting on location in New York City with about 40 crew members. They’re all back in New York. This is for you guys.
“If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more. This is proof.”In one of the most unpredictable races in years, Adrien Brody wins best actor for The Brutalist, Zoe Saldaña gets best supporting actress for Emilia Pérez, and Kieran Culkin is named best supporting actor.
“This is very surreal,” said Mikey Madison, who plays a sex worker who has a whirlwind romance with a Russian oligarch’s son.
Going into Sunday’s ceremony, Netflix musical/crime drama hybrid “Emilia Pérez” led with 13 nominations. Oz-set “Wicked” and “The Brutalist,” which stars Adrien Brody as a Holocaust survivor and architect, follow with 10 nods each.
“The Brutalist” ended the night with three awards, including best actor for Adrien Brody. “Wicked” earned two wins, including best production design and best costume design.
Oscars 2025: The list of winners
Best picture
“Anora”
Best actor in a leading role
Adrien Brody “The Brutalist”
Best actress in a leading role
Mikey Madison, “Anora”
Best actor in a supporting role
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
Best actress in a supporting role
Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
Best director
Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best cinematography
“The Brutalist”
Best international feature film
“I’m Still Here”
Best adapted screenplay
“Conclave”
Best original screenplay
“Anora”
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