The 97th Academy Awards lit up Hollywood with a night of cinematic triumphs, historic wins, and emotional moments. Hosted by the ever-witty Conan O'Brien, the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles was a celebration of bold storytelling and unforgettable performances. Sean Baker’s indie masterpiece Anoraemerged as the night’s biggest winner, while Adrien Brody made a powerful return to the Oscars stage with a Best Actor win for The Brutalist. Zoe Saldaña etched her name into the history books, and Dune: Part Twodominated the technical categories. From surprise victories to heartfelt speeches, the 2025 Oscars proved once again why cinema remains a force that unites and inspires audiences worldwide.
And the Oscar goes to...
Still from Anora
Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora
- Best Picture: Anora
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Best Actress: Mikey Madison for Anora
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez
Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker for Anora
Best Adapted Screenplay: Peter Straughan for Conclave
Best Cinematography: The Brutalist
Best Original Score: The Brutalist
Best Original Song: El Mal from Emilia Pérez
Best Editing: Anora
Best Production Design: Wicked
Best Costume Design: Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance
Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two
Best International Feature: I'm Still Here (Brazil)
Best Animated Feature: Flow
Best Animated Short: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Live-Action Short: I'm Not a Robot
Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Award Highlights
Anora, directed by Sean Baker, led the evening with five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. Adrien Brody's performance in The Brutalist earned him his second Best Actor Oscar, while Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña were recognized in the supporting acting categories for their roles in A Real Pain and Emilia Pérez, respectively.
Anora winning The Best Picture
Notably, Paul Tazewell made history by becoming the first Black man to win Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked.
Still from Wicked
I'm Still Here from Brazil also secured Best International Feature, and the Latvian animated film Flow won Best Animated Feature, highlighting the global diversity celebrated at this year's Oscars. The ceremony also featured a special tribute to Quincy Jones, honouring his extensive contributions to the music and film industries.