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Director Sean Baker, producers Alex Coco, and Samantha Quan, and cast and crew members win the Oscar for best picture for "Anora" during the Oscars show at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025.
‘Anora’ wins big at the Oscars
It was a big night for independent filmmaking and a film with Russian themes at the Oscars on Sunday as “Anora” took home five Academy Awards, including best screenplay, best editing, best director, best actress, and best picture. The low-budget indie film follows the failing marriage of a sex worker and an oligarch’s son in Brooklyn, and it features several prominent Russian actors. It has been celebrated in Moscow, to the chagrin of one filmmaker.
“You know, Anora’s having a great night,” said comedian Conan O’Brien, who hosted the Oscars. “I guess Americans are glad to see someone finally stand up to a powerful Russian,” he quipped.
O’Brien’s performance was otherwise apolitical, as were many of the acceptance speeches, with some notable exceptions. Adrian Brody, who won best actor for “The Brutalist,” urged the audience to learn from history and “not let hate go unchecked.” Actress Daryl Hannah exclaimed, “Slava Ukraine,” before issuing the award for best editing. Yuval Abraham, who won best documentary feature for “No Other Land” about the destruction of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, blamed the United States for stymying a path to peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.
There were some historic moments, too. Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win for costume design, and Zoë Saldaña became the first woman of Dominican descent – and the third Latina – to win best supporting actress. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands,” Saldaña said in her speech.Actor Adrien Brody, star of "The Brutalist," during a pre-recorded interview with BBC in London on Jan. 19, 2025.
An Oscar for AI-enhanced films?
Meanwhile, “Emilia Pérez,” about a Mexican cartel leader’s gender transition, led all films this year with 13 Oscar nominations. The film also used Respeecher to blend the voice of the lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, a trans woman, with that of the French singer Camille, to help her sound natural singing in higher octaves.
The films have faced criticism for using artificial intelligence at a time when Hollywood — and its unions — have been grappling with the appropriate role of the technology in filmmaking. But post-production editing is an essential part of filmmaking. What’s the difference if the tools they use use AI or not? Share your thoughts with us here.And the (geopolitical) Oscar goes to …
It's the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday, and we all know that the Oscars often get political. You can expect speeches to reference Russia's war in Ukraine and, of course, US culture-war issues like identity politics. But in this era of political hyper-polarization in America and beyond, we’ve got our own awards to give out.
Here are our picks for a few of the best performances of the past 12 months.
Best Documentary Feature: "The Little Short," by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, based on his get-rich-quick bestseller "Bukele's Guide to Wealth and Fame in Crypto Markets."
Best Cameo/Actress in a Limited TV Miniseries:Liz Truss as British PM.
Lifetime Achievement: Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for "My Trip to Taipei," a tour de force in DNGAF about the geopolitical consequences of my actions.
Best Costume Design: US Rep. (and alleged serial liar) George Santos (R-NY) as a drag queen in Brazil.
Best Editing: Xi Jinping for ending zero-COVID in China — and all references to it too.
Best Special Effects: The US/Russia/pro-Ukrainian group/we'll-never-know-who for the Nord Stream pipeline explosion.
Best Sound Editing in Parliament/Exit From the Party: Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern.
Best Screenplay/Cinematography: C-SPAN for "The House Speaker Fight," an unexpectedly riveting story of failed votes, failed fistfights, and failed leadership in the US Congress.
Best Remake: Jair Bolsonaro, director of the 8 de Janeiro reboot of January 6.
Best Picture: "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Balloon," a Kubrick-esque Cold War 2.0 satire featuring Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, and a floating weapon of mass puns.
Netflix's Oscar Fail: Media in 60 Seconds
Netflix spent more than $30 million on its Oscars campaign, but still didn't nab best picture.
It's Media in 60 Seconds with Isabelle Roughol!
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