Oscars 2025: Big Wins from the 97th Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated the pinnacle of cinematic achievements from the past year. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Conan O’Brien, the evening was a blend of heartfelt speeches, historic wins, and unforgettable performances.

The ceremony commenced with a spellbinding performance by Oscar nominees Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who delivered a powerful rendition of “Defying Gravity” from the multiple Oscar-nominated film ‘Wicked’. Their duet set an electrifying tone for the night, captivating both the live audience and viewers worldwide.

The Winners

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin 

Culkin won his first-ever Oscar for A Real Pain, marking a major milestone in his career. Already an Emmy winner for Succession, he’s now halfway to EGOT status. In his speech, he thanked co-star Jeremy Strong, director Jesse Eisenberg, and his wife, Jazz Charton.

Best Animated Feature: Flow

Latvia celebrates its first-ever Oscar win as director Gints Zilbalodis takes home the award. In a heartwarming moment, he gave a shoutout to his mother, the animation software Blender, and even his pets back home.

Best Animated Short: ‘In The Shadow of the Cypress’ 

Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi landed in LA just hours before the ceremony—but now, they’re Oscar winners! Their animated short In The Shadow of the Cypress took home the trophy, proving that last-minute miracles do happen.

Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell

Tazewell becomes the first Black man to win in this category for his stunning work on Wicked. He previously received a nomination for West Side Story, but tonight, he walks away with the gold!

Best Original Screenplay: Sean Baker wins for ‘Anora’

Baker takes home his first Oscar of the night and is still in the running for Best Director and Best Picture. In his speech, he expressed deep gratitude to the sex worker community for sharing their stories, which inspired the film.

Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘Conclave’ 

Peter Straughan secures his first Oscar for his gripping script based on Robert Harris’ novel.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ‘The Substance’

The team behind Coralie Fargeat’s horror thriller The Substance—Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli—celebrate their first-ever Oscar victory!

Best Film Editing: ‘Anora’ 

Sean Baker’s Anora scores again, taking home Best Editing. This makes two Oscars for Baker tonight, with two more chances left for him to win big!

Best Production Design: ‘Wicked’

Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales take home their first Oscar for Best Production Design, bringing the enchanting visuals of Oz to life. 

Best Original Song: “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez

The Academy honors Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard with the Oscar for Best Original Song for “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez. The hauntingly beautiful track captivated audiences and critics alike, securing its place in Oscars history.

Best Documentary Short: The Only Girl In The Orchestra

Molly O’Brien and Lisa Remington take home the Oscar for Best Documentary Short for their powerful Netflix film, The Only Girl In The Orchestra. The documentary, which tells an inspiring story of perseverance and breaking barriers. 

Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land 

Filmmakers Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for No Other Land. In a powerful acceptance speech, the winners used their moment on stage to call for an end to the violence in Gaza and highlighted the role of American foreign policy in obstructing peace efforts. The documentary, which captures deeply personal and political struggles, has struck a chord with audiences worldwide.

Best Sound: Dune: Part Two 

The soundscape of Arrakis takes center stage as Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill win the Oscar for Best Sound for their stunning work on Dune: Part Two. Under Denis Villeneuve’s visionary direction, the team crafted an immersive auditory experience that transported audiences to the desert planet. 

Best Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two 

Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer take home the award for Best Visual Effects, bringing Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic to life with cutting-edge VFX. 

Best Live Action Short: I’m Not A Robot

Filmmakers Victoria Warmerdam and Wim Goossens Trent take home the Oscar for Best Live Action Short for their work on I’m Not A Robot. 

Best Cinematography: The Brutalist 

Lol Crawley takes home the Oscar for Best Cinematography for his breathtaking work on ‘The Brutalist.’ Known for its bold compositions and evocative lighting, the film’s cinematography played a crucial role in bringing its intense and atmospheric story to life. This marks a major win for Crawley.

Best International Feature: I’m Still Here 

Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here triumphs as Best International Feature Film, marking a monumental win for Brazil at the Academy Awards. The film edged out strong contenders like Emilia Perez, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, The Girl with the Needle, and Flow to take home the prestigious honor.

Best Original Score: The Brutalist 

Composer Daniel Blumberg takes home the Academy Award for Best Original Score for Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist. This marks the film’s second Oscar win of the night, further cementing its impact at this year’s ceremony. 

Best Actor: Adrien Brody 

Adrien Brody makes history once again, winning his second Best Actor Oscar for his powerful performance as Hungarian émigré Laszlo Toth in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist. Having first claimed the award for The Pianist, where he became the youngest actor to win in the category, Brody now joins an elite group of two-time Academy Award winners. 

Best Director: Sean Baker 

Sean Baker cements his legacy at the 2025 Academy Awards, winning Best Director for Anora! This marks his third Oscar of the night, following wins for Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay, with a potential fourth win still in play for Best Picture. In his acceptance speech, Baker passionately praised the magic of communal theatrical experiences. 

Best Actress: Mikey Madison 

Mikey Madison takes home her first Academy Award for Best Actress, delivering a career-defining performance in Anora. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude to the many women of the sex worker community and the people of Brighton Beach, New York, where the film was shot. Madison’s powerful portrayal has been a standout this awards season, making this win a well-deserved one for both her and Anora. 

Best Picture: Anora 

Sean Baker’s Anora claims the Academy Award for Best Picture, capping off a dominant night with a total of five Oscar wins. The film’s victories include Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Director, making it the undisputed star of the evening.

With this win, Baker ties Walt Disney’s record for most Oscars won by an individual in four different categories—a historic achievement. In his final words on stage, he passionately declared, “Long live independent films.”As the curtains close on the 2025 Academy Awards, the night has been nothing short of historic. Anora’s sweeping success, Adrien Brody’s legendary comeback, and Dune: Part Two’s technical brilliance made for an unforgettable celebration of cinema. From powerful acceptance speeches to groundbreaking wins, this year’s Oscars proved that bold storytelling, artistic vision, and independent filmmaking continue to shape the future of Hollywood.