The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, celebrated cinematic excellence with remarkable achievements and memorable highlights. The ceremony honored the theme of “Community and Spirit,” paying tribute to the 29 lives lost and thousands of homes destroyed in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.
Major Winners:
•Best Picture: Anora
•Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora
•Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
•Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo for Wicked
•Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez
•Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Anora emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. This achievement matches a 70-year-old record held by Walt Disney for the most Oscars won by one person in a single year.
Adrien Brody’s portrayal in The Brutalist earned him the Best Actor award, marking a significant highlight of the evening.
Cynthia Erivo’s performance in Wicked garnered her the Best Actress award, adding to the film’s accolades, which also included Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Notable Moments:
•The ceremony opened with a powerful performance of “Defy Gravity” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, setting an inspiring tone for the evening.
•Conan O’Brien hosted the event, delivering a memorable opening monologue that included a spoof of The Substance, adding a touch of humor to the proceedings.
•Zoe Saldaña’s win for Best Supporting Actress in Emilia Pérez was notable, especially as the film received 13 nominations, the most for any non-English language film.
The ceremony also acknowledged the resilience of the community affected by the recent wildfires, with several presenters and winners paying tribute to the victims and first responders.
Overall, the 2025 Oscars celebrated not only theartistic achievements of the film industry but also the enduring spirit of community and resilience in the face of adversity.
