The 97th Oscars hosted by Conan O’Brien have finally arrived. Held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, the ceremony attracted 19 million viewers, an essential time in the film industry. This was the first ceremony to be streamed live through Hulu, allowing it to build up its viewers beyond a ground, traditional broadcast television platform. 

Anora, a tragic drama directed by Sean Baker, secured Oscars for Best Picture and four other awards: Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. It’s the story of a young woman who is in personal loss while trying to satisfy the guiding values of society. There is a growing sentiment within the film industry toward delving into the depths of human interests.

Mikey Madison’s captivating portrayal of the formal character in Anora earned her the Best Actress Oscar. At 27, she became the ninth-youngest actress to earn that honor. Many agree her performance was perhaps one of the year’s finest, and her vulnerability and strength resonated deeply with audiences. Accepting this, she expressed charity in her ability to play such an inhumane character with so much depth.

The voted best Actor was Adrian Brody in The Brutalist, who explored modern architecture’s psychological toil, lauded for his industry and nuance, representing the troubles architects ghosted by his past. This is the actor’s second Oscar, having taken home his first for The Pianist (2003). This further fortifies his status as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood today.

In the secondary categories, the evening highlighted exceptional paintings. Zoe Saldaña received an Oscar for her role as Best Supporting Actress in Emilia Pérez, an incredible film about a talented immigrant woman living in the United States. The victory of Saldaña was historic because she became the first Dominican American ever to win an Academy Award. She has received nearly universal love for it, calling it an extraordinary performance that changed with emotional depth and resilience.

Best Supporting Actor Kieran Culkin brilliantly inhabited the role in The Brutalist and thereby cemented, without any form of doubt, his reputation as one of the most compelling actors of his generation. He embodied a deeply complex character tormented by his own demons, chilling in a magnetic manner.

The film The Brutalist took several technical awards, including one of the more notable categories, Best Original Score for Daniel Blumberg. Critics gave credit to his dark, minimalist score that supports the film’s atmosphere. Reviews commended the music for increasing the tension and emotional weight of the narrative.

The night crowned independent films with a great victory, as Flow won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The heartfelt story about the interconnectedness of human experiences, coupled with its innovative animation style, amazingly struck a chord with critics and audiences alike. Flow became a touchstone of independent films in the mainstream awards circuit through its success.

In the Best International Feature category, I’m Still Here, a Brazilian drama about the enduring power of hope and love in the face of hardship, was awarded. Thus, it became the first Brazilian film to actually take the prize in this category.

Other notable wins included Tazewell’s historical achievement in Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked. Tazewell became the first black designer to win this award, further cementing his legacy in the world of costume design. In addition, their work on Anora won Best Film Editing for granting the film a seamless and impactful narrative.

As the 97th Academy Awards have ended, great filmmaking stood out among these celebrations, emphasizing diversity and representation in multiple categories. The wins of Anora and The Brutalist alike and the performances by the emerging and established actors shone in a typically developing Oscars and in going towards Hollywood. The rewards were also deservedly a powerful reminder of the voice and heart of a good storyteller, drawing attention and inspiration to it. The Oscars 2025 established cinema for what it ought to be: often complex, appealing to diversity, and carrying the weight of the universal human experience.