The 97th Academy Awards, held on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, was a night of firsts and historic moments. Leading the charge was Anora, which was named the Best Picture, taking home a total of five awards, making it the evening’s biggest winner.
Mikey Madison earned the prestigious Best Actress award for her role in Anora, while director Sean Baker made history with four Oscar wins. Baker took home Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture, breaking records for his remarkable achievements in bringing Anora to the big screen.
In the acting categories, Adrien Brody was named Best Actor for his performance in The Brutalist, while Kieran Culkin triumphed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in A Real Pain.
Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal in Emilia Pérez. Saldaña’s win is notable as she becomes the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award.
Other victories included Flow, which secured the Best Animated Feature award, marking Latvia’s first-ever Oscar win in the category. No Other Land was awarded Best Documentary Feature, and I’m Still Here took home Best International Feature Film, delivering Brazil its first-ever Oscar victory.
In the writing categories, Peter Straughan earned Best Adapted Screenplay for Conclave, while The Brutalist took home Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
Dune: Part Two continued its streak of success, winning Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, while Emilia Pérez also earned recognition with the Best Original Song award for “El Mal.” The Substance won the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
In an exceptional moment, Paul Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design, for his work on the musical film Wicked. Wicked also triumphed in Best Production Design, rounding out its successful night.
The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, featured memorable performances, including a rendition by Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a special tribute to the music of the James Bond films, with performances from Doja Cat, Lisa of Blackpink and Raye.
The evening also honoured the late Quincy Jones, featuring Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey. Additionally, Morgan Freeman paid tribute to his “dear friend” Gene Hackman during the In Memoriam segment, following Hackman’s death last month.
Also Read: Harrison Ford to Miss 97th Academy Awards Due to Illness
