The 2025 Academy Awards concluded Sunday with Anora capturing five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker) and Best Actress (Mikey Madison), in a star-studded ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Adrien Brody won his second Best Actor award, for The Brutalist, while Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) took home Oscars for supporting roles.
Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman, who was found dead last week along with his wife and dog in their New Mexico home. And Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Queen Latifah honored Quincy Jones, who died in November.
The show recognized firefighters who battled the deadly Los Angeles wildfires that led to the nominations being postponed twice in January.
● ‘Anora’ wins Best Picture
Anora took home the biggest honor of the night, the Oscar for Best Picture. The film won five out of the six categories it earned nominations for. Director Sean Baker and the film’s cast, including Best Actress winner Mikey Madison and producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan, took the stage to accept the award.
“To all of the dreamers and young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell. Tell the stories that move you. I promise you, you will never regret it,” said Quan.
Added Baker, “I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film. This film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indie artists.”
● Anora’ director Sean Baker urges audiences to support local movie theaters: ‘It’s up to us’
When Sean Baker took the stage to accept the Academy Award for Best Director, he took the opportunity to passionately encourage people to continue going to movie theaters.
“Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater. Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience,” Baker said. “In a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever. It’s a communal experience you simply don’t get at home. Right now, the theater-going experience is under threat. Movie theaters, especially independently owned theaters, are struggling. It’s up to us to support them.”
Baker added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1,000 movie theaters in the United States went out of business.
“If we don’t reverse this trend, we will be losing a vital part of our culture.”
Baker concluded his speech with what he called his “battle cry.”
“Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will,” he said. “Distributors, please focus first on the theatrical releases of your films. Parents, introduce your children to feature films in movie theaters, and you’ll be molding the next generation of movie lovers and filmmakers. And for all of us, when we can, please watch movies.”
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