The 97th Academy Awards, held in Los Angeles, marked the culmination of an awards season overshadowed by the devastating January wildfires. Despite the tragedy, the Oscars moved forward, with the ceremony hosted for the first time by Conan O’Brien. The night’s biggest winner was Anora, the dramatic comedy directed by Sean Baker, which secured five awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
The ceremony opened with a heartfelt montage honoring Los Angeles, followed by a stirring performance of “We Love LA.” A highlight of the night was an electrifying duet by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, stars of the highly successful musical Wicked. The event retained a celebratory atmosphere despite the earlier disruptions to the awards season, which had forced the cancellation of the annual nominees’ luncheon and adjustments to nomination deadlines.
Heading into the ceremony, the Netflix musical crime drama Emilia Pérez led with 13 nominations, followed by Wicked and The Brutalist, both of which earned ten nods. While Anora dominated the evening, The Brutalist also had a strong showing; the film, starring Adrien Brody as a Holocaust survivor-turned-architect, won three awards, including Best Actor for Brody. Meanwhile, Wicked secured two major wins for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Among the acting categories, Kieran Culkin emerged victorious in Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain, while Zoe Saldaña took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez. The Best Director award went to Sean Baker for his work on Anora, further cementing the film’s status as the standout of the night.
In the technical categories, The Brutalist won Best Cinematography, while Dune: Part Two claimed victory for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. The Best Original Score award went to The Brutalist, while Emilia Pérez triumphed in the Best Original Song category with its winning track, “El Mal.”
The international film category saw I’m Still Here clinch the Best International Feature Film title, adding to the diversity of the winners, while Conclave took home Best Adapted Screenplay, and Anora won Best Original Screenplay. The Best Animated Feature Film category was won by Flow, a unique and visually captivating entry that stood out among strong competition, including Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot.
Short films also had their moment in the spotlight, with I’m Not a Robot winning Best Live Action Short Film, and In the Shadow of the Cypress taking home Best Animated Short Film. The documentary categories saw No Other Land Winning Best Documentary Feature Film, while The Only Girl in the Orchestra earned the Best Documentary Short award.
The Substance won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, while Anora claimed Best Film Editing. The Best Production Design award went to Wicked, which further contributed to highlighting the film’s strong visual presentation.
The night was filled with moments of celebration, tributes, and surprise victories, making the 97th Academy Awards a memorable event. With Anora emerging as the biggest winner and Sean Baker receiving widespread acclaim for his direction, the night underscored the power of independent cinema. The awards season’s top contenders, from The Brutalist to Wicked and Emilia Pérez, showcased the incredible range of talent across genres and industries.
The event also reflected Hollywood’s resilience, coming together in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires that deeply affected the industry. While the night was a recognition of artistic achievement, it also served as a testament to the spirit of filmmaking and storytelling that continues to enthrall audiences around the globe.
