The 97th Academy Awards was held on March 2, 2025, celebrating filmmaking. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony honoured films that captivated audiences worldwide, from epic blockbusters to intimate dramas. Let’s look at the highlights of the event which marked a memorable night in Hollywood.
Best Picture: ‘Anora’
Sean Baker’s romantic comedy-drama ‘Anora’ took home the Best Picture award for film of the year. ‘Anora’ also won Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
Best Director: Sean Baker
Sean Baker was awarded Best Director for ‘Anora’, which makes it his third Oscar win. In his acceptance speech, Baker shared the importance of preserving theatres and urged filmmakers to continue making movies for the big screen.
Read more: Oscars 2025 LIVE Winners List
Best Actor: Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody secured his second Oscar for Best Actor for his powerful performance in ‘The Brutalist’, directed by Brady Corbet. Brody’s portrayal of László Tóth was widely praised, beating out strong competition from Timothée Chalamet and Ralph Fiennes.
Best Actress: Mikey Madison
Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her role in ‘Anora’. Her performance was lauded for its depth and nuance. The film is centred around her playing a complex character.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña took home the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in ‘Emilia Pérez’. In her emotional speech, she honoured her immigrant parents and expressed gratitude to her husband.
Furthermore, the Best Animated Feature was won by ‘Flow’ over ‘The Wild Robot’, while ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress’ claimed the Best Animated Short Film award. Best Visual Effects and Sound was given to ‘Dune: Part Two’ which dominated these categories. The Best Production Design and Costume Design was won by ‘Wicked’, with Paul Tazewell making history as the first Black person to receive an Oscar for costume design. ‘No Other Land’ took the Best Documentary Feature award and Best Documentary Short Film was won by ‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’.
Read more: Oscars 2025 Full Winners List
