Oscars recap: ‘Anora’ shines as independent film dominates 97th Academy Awards
By Davis T. Harley | Staff writer
The 97th Academy Awards took center stage Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien making his debut as host. After two years under Jimmy Kimmel, which saw declining viewership, O’Brien’s performance focused on crowd engagement, highlighted by a lighthearted exchange with Adam Sandler.
The ceremony delivered a mix of surprises, historic wins, and standout performances. Doja Cat and Cynthia Erivo provided musical performances, while Morgan Freeman paid tribute to the late Gene Hackman, who passed away days before the event. However, the annual "In Memoriam" segment sparked controversy for omitting notable figures such as Michelle Trachtenberg, reigniting debates over the selection process.
‘Anora’ Leads the Night
The independent film Anora emerged as the biggest winner, taking home five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Sean Baker. Mikey Madison earned Best Actress for her performance in the film, while it also secured wins in Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
Major Awards
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, though his nearly six-minute acceptance speech drew criticism for being overly long. Kieran Culkin claimed Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña made history as the first American of Dominican descent to win Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Perez.
In other top categories, The Brutalist also won Best Cinematography and Best Original Score (Daniel Blumberg). No Other Land, a collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, won Best Documentary Feature. Brazil’s I’m Still Here took home Best International Film, and Flow pulled off an upset in Best Animated Feature, beating out Inside Out 2.
Technical and Artistic Achievements
Dune: Part Two dominated the technical categories, winning Achievement in Sound and Achievement in Visual Effects, the latter being widely expected due to the film’s groundbreaking visuals, including a real eclipse over the desert dunes.
Wicked took home two awards—Achievement in Costume Design and Achievement in Production Design—while The Substance won for Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling.
In music, El Mal from Emilia Perez won Best Original Song, while In the Shadow of the Cypress, an Iranian production, claimed Best Animated Short Film.
Diverse Stories Take the Spotlight
The night celebrated a wide range of storytelling, from blockbuster hits to independent gems. Anora’s success underscored the growing impact of indie films, while the recognition of No Other Land highlighted global narratives.
With O’Brien’s hosting debut well received, the 97th Academy Awards delivered a memorable night of cinematic excellence, pushing creative boundaries and reaffirming Hollywood’s evolving landscape.
Top of the screen: Photo via ‘Anora’ electronic press kit at “anora.film”.
Contact Davis T. Harley at dharley@augusta.edu.
