Neon’s Anora and its director Sean Baker were the biggest winners at the 97th Academy Awards, winning five trophies. These included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Baker set a new Oscar record by winning four awards for a single film. He encouraged filmmakers to continue making independent films during his acceptance speech.
Adrien Brody Wins Best Actor
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, marking his second win after 22 years. He portrayed visionary architect László Tóth and emphasized the importance of creating a more inclusive world in his acceptance speech.
Best Actress and Supporting Roles
Mikey Madison took home the Best Actress award for her role in Anora, marking her first major lead role. Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin also earned their first Oscars for Best Supporting Actress and Actor, respectively, for their performances in Emilia Pérez and A Real Pain.
Best Animated Feature and International Film
Flow won Best Animated Feature, becoming the first Latvian film to win an Oscar. Brazil’s I’m Still Here took the Best International Feature Film, marking the country’s first Academy Award win.
Technical and Craft Awards
In the technical categories, Dune: Part Two triumphed with awards for Best Sound and Visual Effects. Wicked won Best Costume Design, with Paul Tazewell making history as the first Black man to win in this category. The Brutalist also earned multiple awards, including Best Cinematography for Lol Crawley.
Special Tributes
The In Memoriam segment paid tribute to industry legends such as Gene Hackman, Maggie Smith, and James Earl Jones. A special tribute was given to Quincy Jones, with Queen Latifah performing a song from The Wiz.
Complete List of 2025 Oscar Winners
- Best Picture: Anora (Neon)
- Best Actress: Mikey Madison in Anora (Neon)
- Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora (Neon)
- Best Actor: Adrien Brody in The Brutalist (A24)
- Best Original Score: The Brutalist (A24), Daniel Blumberg
- Best International Feature: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Best Cinematography: The Brutalist (A24), Lol Crawley
- Best Animated Feature: Flow (Sideshow/Janus Films)
- Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
- Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain (Searchlight)
- Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
- Best Sound: Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
