Oscars 2025: "Anora" Wins Best Picture, "Flow" Takes Home Best Animated Feature

Image credits: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

The 97th Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O'Brien hosting the ceremony. The night saw several big wins, including "Anora" taking home the award for Best Picture. The film, directed by Sean Baker, tells the story of a Brooklyn sex worker who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch. "Anora" won a total of five Oscars, including Best Director and Best Actress for Mikey Madison.

Another notable win was "Flow," which took home the award for Best Animated Feature. The film, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, is a wordless cat parable that follows a group of animals as they try to survive a catastrophic flood. The win marked a historic moment for Latvia, as it was the country's first Oscar. The film was also nominated for Best International Feature Film.

In other categories, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in "The Brutalist," while Zoe Saldaña took home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez." The film "Dune: Part Two" won two technical awards, including Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. The ceremony also saw a tribute to the late Gene Hackman, who passed away last week.

The night was filled with memorable moments, including a performance by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who sang a medley of songs from "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked." The ceremony also included a segment honoring the first responders who have been working to recover from the devastating wildfires that have affected Los Angeles.

The Oscars are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the film industry, and the ceremony is watched by millions of people around the world. The awards are given in various categories, including acting, directing, and writing, and are chosen by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This year's ceremony was marked by a sense of community and celebration, as the film industry came together to honor the best films and filmmakers of the year. The diversity of the nominees and winners was also notable, with films from around the world and representing a range of genres and styles.