Oscars 2025: Independent Films Dominate as ‘Anora’ and ‘The Brutalist’ Lead the Awards

The 97th Academy Awards highlighted a shift in Hollywood, with independent films taking center stage. “Anora”, directed by Sean Baker, emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture. Following closely was “The Brutalist”, which won three awards, solidifying the presence of independent cinema at this year’s ceremony.

Held in the aftermath of one of the most devastating wildfires in Los Angeles history, the awards ceremony paid tribute to the firefighters and rescue workers who worked tirelessly to contain the disaster. Additionally, a montage celebrated the city's deep connection with cinema, featuring iconic films shot in Los Angeles, from “The Long Goodbye” to “Licorice Pizza”.

Independent Films Take the Lead in Major Categories

This year’s Oscars underscored a changing landscape, where smaller, independently produced films overshadowed big-budget studio projects. While major franchise films like “Dune: Part Two” and “Wicked” earned accolades in technical categories, the top honors went to filmmakers who have built their careers outside the traditional studio system.

Best Picture

???? “Anora” – Neon (Winner)

• “The Brutalist” – A24
• “A Complete Unknown” – Searchlight
• “Conclave” – Focus Features
• “Dune: Part Two” – Warner Bros.
• “Emilia Pérez” – Netflix
• “I'm Still Here” – Sony Pictures Classic
• “Nickel Boys” – Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
• “The Substance” – MUBI
• “Wicked” – Universal

Best Director

???? Sean Baker – “Anora” (Winner)

• Brady Corbet – “The Brutalist”
• James Mangold – “A Complete Unknown”
• Jacques Audiard – “Emilia Pérez”
• Coralie Fargeat – “The Substance”

Surprises in the Acting Categories

The acting awards featured both expected winners and unexpected victories. Adrien Brody, who previously won an Oscar for “The Pianist”, took home Best Actor for his role in “The Brutalist”, playing a troubled architect. In a surprising outcome, Mikey Madison won Best Actress for her performance in “Anora”, surpassing Demi Moore, who had been widely predicted to win for “The Substance”.

Best Actor

???? Adrien Brody – “The Brutalist” (Winner)

• Timothée Chalamet – “A Complete Unknown”
• Colman Domingo – “Sing Sing”
• Ralph Fiennes – “Conclave”
• Sebastian Stan – “The Apprentice”

Best Actress

???? Mikey Madison – “Anora” (Winner)

• Cynthia Erivo – “Wicked”
• Karla Sofía Gascón – “Emilia Pérez”
• Demi Moore – “The Substance”
• Fernanda Torres – “I'm Still Here”

The Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories also brought notable moments. Kieran Culkin, recognized for his role in “A Real Pain”, delivered a lighthearted speech, reminding his wife of a promise she made regarding their family. Zoe Saldana, winning for “Emilia Pérez”, expressed pride in being the first Dominican-American actress to receive an Academy Award, emphasizing the significance of representation in Hollywood.

Best Supporting Actor

???? Kieran Culkin – “A Real Pain” (Winner)

• Yura Borisov – “Anora”
• Edward Norton – “A Complete Unknown”
• Guy Pearce – “The Brutalist”
• Jeremy Strong – “The Apprentice”

Best Supporting Actress

???? Zoe Saldana – “Emilia Pérez” (Winner)

• Monica Barbaro – “A Complete Unknown”
• Ariana Grande – “Wicked”
• Felicity Jones – “The Brutalist”
• Isabella Rossellini – “Conclave”

International and Animated Categories See Historic Wins

The Best International Feature Film category made history with Brazil securing its first win for “I'm Still Here”, a drama set during the country’s military dictatorship. Meanwhile, the Best Animated Feature Film category saw “Flow”, a Latvian production, triumph over major contenders like “Inside Out 2” and “The Wild Robot”.

Best International Feature Film

???? “I'm Still Here” – Brazil (Winner)

• “The Girl with the Needle” – Denmark
• “Emilia Pérez” – France
• “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” – Germany
• “Flow” – Latvia

Best Animated Feature Film

???? “Flow” – Sideshow/Janus Films (Winner)

• “Inside Out 2” – Walt Disney
• “Memoir of a Snail” – IFC Films
• “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” – Netflix
• “The Wild Robot” – Universal

Conan O'Brien Hosts the Ceremony with Humor and Satire

For the first time, Conan O’Brien took on hosting duties, delivering a mix of humor and industry satire. His monologue touched on social media controversies and the unpredictable nature of Hollywood. The ceremony also included a musical number about the Oscars’ runtime and an appearance by Adam Sandler, casually dressed in a hoodie.

One of the night’s most poignant moments came from Sean Baker, who used his acceptance speech to advocate for movie theaters. He highlighted the ongoing decline of independent cinemas, stating, “During the pandemic, we lost 1,000 screens in the U.S. And we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture.”

The 97th Academy Awards reaffirmed the influence of independent filmmaking, showcasing stories that might not have emerged from major studios but left a lasting impact on audiences and critics alike.