The golden glow of the Dolby Theatre shimmered with excitement as the biggest night in Hollywood unfolded—the 97th Academy Awards.

The evening’s spotlight was on “Anora,” a film that had captivated audiences worldwide. Directed by Sean Baker, “Anora” wove a poignant tale of love and resilience, earning it six nominations.

Journalists, fans, and industry insiders buzzed with anticipation, eager to witness history in the making. Among the crowd stood Elena Carter, an aspiring filmmaker who had long dreamed of this moment, watching as the night’s winners took the stage, shaping the future of cinema before her eyes.

As the ceremony unfolded, “Anora” clinched five Oscars, including Best Picture. Sean Baker’s visionary direction and original screenplay were honored, and Mikey Madison’s portrayal of the titular character earned her the Best Actress award.

The first major announcement sent waves through the audience—Best Picture went to Anora, a raw and riveting drama that had captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike. Sean Baker, the film’s director, took to the stage, his voice shaking with emotion. “This film is about the resilience of the human spirit,” he said. “And tonight, I share this honor with everyone who believes in telling real, authentic stories.”

Mikey Madison, who portrayed the lead in Anora, was next, winning Best Actress. Tears welled in her eyes as she accepted her golden statuette. “This role changed my life,” she said. “And I hope it inspires others to take risks and believe in their art.”

Meanwhile, Adrien Brody’s powerful performance in The Brutalist earned him the Best Actor award, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers. The night also saw Zoe Saldaña take home Best Supporting Actress for her gripping role in Emilia Pérez, and Kieran Culkin earn Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, marking a triumphant evening for emotionally charged performances.

Elena clutched her notepad, scribbling every detail, absorbing the magnitude of the moment. She knew how these awards were more than just accolades—they were a statement about the stories that mattered.

As the ceremony continued, I’m Still Here, a poignant Brazilian film, won Best International Feature, while Flow took home Best Animated Feature, its innovative storytelling setting a new benchmark in animation. El Mal from Emilia Pérez won Best Original Song, its haunting melody leaving the audience spellbound.

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Among the technical categories, Dune: Part Two dominated with wins in Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, showcasing the power of immersive filmmaking. The Brutalist triumphed in Cinematography and Original Score, while Wicked dazzled in Best Production Design and Costume Design, proving that spectacle and substance could coexist.

By the end of the night, as the winners gathered backstage, Elena felt a renewed sense of purpose. She knew her journey was just beginning. One day, she promised herself, she would be up on that stage, telling a story that moved the world.

As the credits rolled on another historic Oscars night, the message was clear—cinema was alive, evolving, and forever inspiring.

Here is the full list of winners

Best picture

WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

Best actress

WINNER: Mikey Madison – Anora
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
Demi Moore – The Substance
Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Best actor

WINNER: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Best supporting actress

WINNER: Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez
Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave

Best supporting actor

WINNER: Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
Yura Borisov – Anora
Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Best director

WINNER: Sean Baker – Anora
Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat – The Substance
James Mangold – A Complete Unknown

Best international feature
WINNER: I’m Still Here – Brazil
The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
Emilia Pérez – France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
Flow – Latvia

Best animated feature

WINNER: Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot

Best original screenplay

WINNER: Anora – Sean Baker
The Brutalist – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain – Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 – Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
The Substance – Coralie Fargeat

Best adapted screenplay

WINNER: Conclave – Peter Straughan
A Complete Unknown – Jay Cocks and James Mangold
Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
Nickel Boys – RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Best original song

WINNER: El Mal – Emilia Pérez
Never Too Late – Elton John: Never Too Late
Mi Camino – Emilia Pérez
Like A Bird – Sing Sing
The Journey – The Six Triple Eight

Best original score

WINNER: The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot

Best documentary feature

WINNER: No Other Land
Black Box Diaries
Porcelain War
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
Sugarcane

Best costume design

WINNER: Wicked
Nosferatu
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II

Best make-up and hairstyling

WINNER: The Substance
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
Wicked

Best production design

WINNER: Wicked
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Conclave

Best sound

WINNER: Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot

Best film editing

WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked

Best cinematography

WINNER: The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu

Best visual effects

WINNER: Dune: Part Two
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked

Best live action short
WINNER: I’m Not a Robot
Anuja
The Last Ranger
A Lien
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Best animated short

WINNER: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Beautiful Men
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!

Best documentary short

WINNER: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Death by Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart