The 97th Academy Awards were held on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and the awards were made even more special by the important victories, touching speeches and remarkable moments that happened during the ceremony, both for the industry and for the audience around the world.
Anora: A Spotlight Moment
The spotlight was definitely on “Anora” as it won the most prestigious award of the night, the Best Picture award. Mikey Madison’s performance as the lead character Anora did her a world of a good to win the Best Actress award. Mikey has been in the industry for a long time and this is a huge achievement in her career. Sean Baker’s direction of “Anora” was awarded the Best Director trophy, thus confirming his status as one of the most talented storytellers of our time.
Outstanding Performances Awarded
Adrien Brody’s performance in “The Brutalist” was enough to bag him the Best Actor award, and thus another Oscar to his name. Kieran Culkin’s work in “A Real Pain” made him the Best Supporting Actor, while Zoe Saldaña was awarded the Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez.”
Musical Tributes and Homages
The ceremony paid homage to the best of the cinema world with performances that paid homage to the best of the films and musicals. Ariana Grande’s performance of songs from “Wicked” was impressive and her fan base was excited to see her perform on the Oscars stage.
Controversies: Addressing the Issues “Emilia Pérez” was nominated for 13 awards and was the subject of debate about the depiction of some groups of people. The creators and cast of the film discussed these conversations to open up the discourse on the necessity of own and diverse stories in the cinema.
Viral Moments and Social Media Highlights
The Oscars are famous for their spontaneous moments that become the talk of the town. Conan O’Brien made his debut as the host of the award show and the reviews were quite positive, his jokes were well received by the live audience as well as the viewers at home. The only problem was that Kieran Culkin’s acceptance speech funny banter with his wife became an internet meme.
Tributes to Industry Legends
The ceremony also honored industry stalwarts. Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg paid homage to Quincy Jones, lauding him for his great achievements in film music. Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman, looking back at his career and the impact he left behind.Looking Ahead
The 2025 Oscars marked a change in the film industry with diverse films like “Anora” winning major awards and indicating a shift in the industry to embrace and celebrate such stories. The debate that “Emilia Perez” has generated shows that there is still much to discuss about the representation of minorities in the cinema and that the industry should keep telling accurate stories about these communities.
When the night was over, it was clear that the Academy Awards are not static but instead continue to grow with the present day and filmmaking. The 97th Oscars were not only about the awards but also about the warm and inspiring speeches, the historic victories, and the most discussed moments.
The Academy Awards Full List
The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema. Below is the complete list of winners:
Best Picture
• Anora
Best Director
• Sean Baker, Anora
Best Actor
• Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress
• Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor
• Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress
• Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Screenplay
• Sean Baker, Anora
Best Adapted Screenplay
• Peter Straughan, Conclave
Best Animated Feature
• Flow
Best International Feature
• I’m Still Here
Best Documentary Feature
• The Climate Tapes
Best Cinematography
• Wojciech Szepel, The Brutalist
Best Film Editing
• Sean Baker, Anora
Best Production Design
• Wicked
Best Costume Design
• Paul Tazewell, Wicked
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
• The Substance
Best Visual Effects
• Dune: Part Two
Best Sound
• Dune: Part Two
Best Original Score
• The Brutalist
Best Original Song
• “Defying Gravity,” Wicked
Best Animated Short Film
• The Last Cloud
Best Live Action Short Film
• The Neighbor’s Window
Best Documentary Short Subject
• Voices of the Rainforest
For a detailed overview of the event and more insights, you can refer to the official Oscars website.
