AnoraEnds Major Night with Best Picture Win at 2025 Oscars: 'Long Live Independent Film'

Mar. 15, 2025

ANORA.Photo:NEON

NEON

The year’s Best Picture has been named at the 2025Oscars!

Anorabeat out nine other contenders for the Academy’s top prize this year:The Brutalist,A Complete Unknown,Conclave,Dune: Part Two,Emilia Pérez,I’m Still Here,Nickel Boys,The SubstanceandWicked. This was the film’s fifth award of the night, which also included Best Actress for leading ladyMikey Madison.

“Thank you guys so much. Thank you to the Academy. We made this movie for $6 million, shooting on location in New York City with about 40 crew members. They’re all back in New York. This is for you guys. Thank you so much,” Coco said. “We made it to be independently. If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more. This is proof.”

After giving thanks to loved ones and others involved in making the film a reality, fellow producer Samantha Quan took over from there, saying, “I don’t know how this can be real life.”

Kevin Winter/Getty

Wrapping things up, director and screenwriterSean Baker, who was also acknowledged separately for his efforts earlier in the ceremony, said: “One last thing: I wanna thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film.”

“This film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indie artists,” he added. “Long live independent film.”

Anorastars Madison, 25, as a sex worker in New York City, experiencing a whirlwind Cinderella story. Madison previouslywon a BAFTA Awardfor her performance.

In addition to the film itself and Madison’s winning performance, the Academy recognizedYura Borisovwith a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. Baker won for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.Anoraalsowon best pictureat the 2025Critics Choice Awardslast month.

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Adrien Brody inThe Brutalist(2024).Courtesy of A24

Courtesy of A24

TheBrady Corbet-helmed period drama rolled into the Academy Awards ceremony with 10 nods, including for Brody, 51, and supporting starsFelicity JonesandGuy Pearce, as well as a Best Director nomination for Corbet, 36.

Monica Barbaro and Timothée Chalamet on the set ofA Complete Unknownin New Jersey on April 15, 2024.TheImageDirect.com

TheImageDirect.com

The movie — which also generated Oscar nominations forRalph Fiennes(Best Actor) andIsabella Rossellini(Best Supporting Actress) — imagines a series of twists in the modern-day Vatican City.

Ralph Fiennes inConclave(2024).Courtesy of Focus Features

Courtesy of Focus Features

Aside fromA Complete Unknown, Chalamet also ledDune: Part Two,Denis Villeneuve’s highly praised follow-up to his 2021 sci-fi epicDune.

An adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi classic,Dune: Part Twowas also nominated at the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

Timothée Chalamet inDune: Part Two(2024).Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

TheJacques Audiard-directed Spanish-language musical, which won best motion picture: comedy or musical at the 2025Golden Globe Awards, nabbed a total of 13 Oscar nominations — the most of any movie this year — including in the categories of Best Actress for Gascón, 52, Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña, 46, and Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Audiard, 72.

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Karla Sofía Gascón inEmilia Pérez(2024).Shanna Besson/PAGE 114

Shanna Besson/PAGE 114

She has made variousstatementsto the media and on herInstagramaccount, including a Feb. 6 post where she apologized to “everyone who has been hurt along the way,” vowing to be silent and “let the work talk for itself.”

I’m Still Herefinds Torres playing a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband. It is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s biographicalbook of the same name, and also received nominations for Best Picture and Best International Feature at the Oscars.

Fernanda Torres inI’m Still Here(2024).Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures

Torres, 59, previouslywon best dramatic movie actressat the Golden Globe Awards in January, and dedicated the honor to her fellow-actress mother Fernanda Montenegro, now 95, who “was here 25 years ago” nominated for her role in 1998’sCentral Station, which also earned her an Oscar nod.

“And this is proof that art can endure through life, even in difficult moments,” Torres added of her win, saying thatI’m Still Hereis “a film that helped us to think how to survive in tough times.”

Nickel Boys, from director RaMell Ross, is a unique screen adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel based on real-life abusive reform schools in America.

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson inNickel Boys(2024).Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Nominated both in the top category and for Best Adapted Screenplay, the movie starsEthan Herisse, Brandon Wilson,Hamish Linklater,Fred Hechinger,Daveed DiggsandAunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror satire flickThe Substancestars Demi Moore as a fading actress who attempts to reverse her aging process, withMargaret Qualleyas her alternate “self,” Sue.

Moore, 62, has swept awards season, including withwins at the Globes,Critics Choice Awardsand, most recently, theSAG Awards. (She lost the BAFTA Award to Madison.)

Demi Moore inThe Substance(2024).MUBI/YouTube

MUBI/YouTube

Wickedwas tied withThe Brutalistfor the second-most nominations this year at 10, including not only Best Picture but Best Actress forCynthia Erivoand Best Supporting Actress forAriana Grande.

TheJon M. Chu-directed musical film, based on the Broadway show of the same name, was also up for Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo inWicked(2024).Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

Erivo, 38, and Grande, 31, even treated the audience and viewers at home toa rousing performanceearlier in the evening.

source: people.com