The 97th Academy Awards ceremony concluded at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, in a dazzling night honoring the top cinematic achievements of the year, focusing on the productions of 2024.
For the first time, Emmy-winning comedian, screenwriter, and former late-night host Conan O’Brien took on the role of host, succeeding Jimmy Kimmel. O’Brien’s presence brought a fresh sense of humor and sarcasm to the Oscars stage.
Although Emilia Pérez had garnered 13 nominations and was considered the frontrunner, controversy surrounding the racist remarks of its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, seemed to affect its trajectory. The film ultimately won only two awards, disappointing its supporters.
The big winner of the night was Anora, which claimed a total of five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.
The evening was also triumphant for Adrien Brody, who won the second Oscar of his career for his performance in The Brutalist. In his acceptance speech, Brody expressed gratitude for the love and respect he has received, acknowledged the unpredictable nature of acting as a profession, and stated that this award was not just a milestone but a new beginning. He shared the honor with his fellow nominees, his team, collaborators, and family, dedicating part of his speech to advocating for a world free from hate, racism, and oppression.
A major upset occurred in the Best Actress category, with Mikey Madison winning for Anora. The favorite for the award had been Demi Moore, but the 25-year-old actress’s performance was deemed equally exceptional.
“This feels so surreal,” Madison said at the beginning of her speech. “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, so being here in this room today is truly unbelievable. I want to acknowledge and honor the sex worker community,” she added. “Yes. I will continue to support and be an ally. The incredible people, the women I had the privilege of meeting from this community, were one of the greatest gifts of this unique experience.”
Madison concluded her speech by saying, “I also want to recognize the thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful, and powerful work of my fellow nominees. It is an honor to stand alongside you. This is a dream come true.”
This year’s Best Director category was particularly interesting, as all nominees were first-time contenders for the award. Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) competed for the coveted statuette, bringing fresh and bold storytelling to cinema. The ultimate winner of the night was Sean Baker, who took home three awards in total for Anora.
Zoe Saldana won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the musical-thriller Emilia Pérez, which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord who undergoes a gender transition. The 46-year-old actress became the first Dominican Republic-born performer to win an Oscar, having previously earned a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award for the same role.
In the Best Supporting Actor category, Kieran Culkin took home the Oscar for his role in A Real Pain, where he portrays a sensitive American Jew traveling to Poland with his cousin to honor their grandmother’s memory. The 42-year-old actor was the category’s frontrunner, and his Oscar was awarded during the first major presentation of the night.
Here is the list of winners:
Best Picture
Winner: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Best Director
Winner: Sean Baker – Anora
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
Best Actor
Winner: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
Best Actress
Winner: Mikey Madison – Anora
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
Demi Moore – The Substance
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Zoe Saldana – Emilia Pérez
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
Yura Borisov – Anora
Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice
Best Original Screenplay
Winner: Anora
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner: Conclave
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
Best International Feature Film
Winner: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
The Girl With the Needle (Denmark)
Emilia Pérez (France)
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Flow (Latvia)
Best Animated Feature Film
Winner: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best Animated Short Film
Winner: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Beautiful Men
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Best Costume Design
Winner: Wicked
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Winner: The Substance
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
Wicked
Best Film Editing
Winner: Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best Production Design
Winner: Wicked
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Best Documentary Feature
Winner: No Other Land
Black Box Diaries
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’État
Sugarcane
Best Documentary Short Film
Winner: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
Best Original Score
Winner: The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best Original Song
Winner: El Mal – Emilia Pérez
“Never Too Late” – Elton John
“Mi Camino” – Emilia Pérez
“Like A Bird” – Sing Sing
“The Journey” – The Six Triple Eight
Best Sound
Winner: Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best Visual Effects
Winner: Dune: Part Two
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Best Live-Action Short Film
Winner: I’m Not a Robot
A Lien
Anuja
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent
Best Cinematography
Winner: The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
