The highly anticipated Oscar ceremony for 2025 has concluded, marking a significant night, especially for Russian audiences. The nomination of Yura Borisov for Best Supporting Actor in “Anora,” alongside the participation of Darya Ekamasova and Mark Eidelstein as part of the film’s crew, heightened attention in Russia towards the Dolby Theatre red carpet.
Sean Baker’s film “Anora” was the evening’s biggest winner, securing five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Actress. Critics view this widespread acclaim as a major acknowledgment by Hollywood of independent cinema, a realm championed by Baker throughout his career. Echoing this sentiment, Baker delivered a powerful speech at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, emphasizing the current struggles faced by independent film production.
“Anora’s” success in winning top honors both in Hollywood, often favoring big-budget productions, and at Cannes, which celebrates auteur filmmaking, is a rare achievement. The last film to achieve similar dual recognition was Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” in 2020.
Brady Corbet’s “Brutalist” also received significant recognition with three Oscars. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his portrayal of Laszlo Toth, a Hungarian architect and Brutalist architecture enthusiast who survived the Holocaust. Additionally, Lou Crowley received Best Cinematography for utilizing Vista Vision to create the visually stunning “Brutalist,” and Daniel Blumberg was awarded Best Original Score for his film’s haunting soundtrack.
Interestingly, the initial nominations did not accurately predict the final outcomes. “Emilia Perez,” a musical centered on Mexico and a transgender journey*, initially led with 13 nominations. However, public opinion shifted after director Jacques Audiard’s controversial remarks surfaced online. Audiard was criticized for suggesting that Spanish is a “language of provincial, developing countries, the poor, and migrants,” sparking outrage in Mexico. Furthermore, old social media posts from transgender* actress Karla Sofia Gascón resurfaced, revealing comments about Islam and Black Lives Matter supporters. The actress had written about noticing an increasing number of “women with covered hair and in floor-length skirts” in Spain and expressed the view that religions should be banned if they contradict European values.
Other heavily nominated films included “Brutalist” and “Wicked,” each with ten nominations, and “Anora,” initially predicted to win in six categories.
*The LGBT movement is recognized as extremist, and its activities are prohibited in Russia.
