Johannesburg – The 97th Academy Awards, held on 2 March 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, delivered a night of surprises, strong indie victories, and memorable moments for film fans around the world—including here in South Africa, where streaming services and late-night broadcasts kept local audiences tuned in.
Independent darling Anora, directed by Sean Baker, emerged as the big winner of the evening, claiming five Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture.
The film—a sharp, gritty comedy-drama about a Brooklyn sex worker’s whirlwind marriage into a wealthy Russian family—also earned Baker awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Mikey Madison delivered a breakout performance in the title role, winning Best Actress in what many called a refreshing upset over heavy favourite Demi Moore (The Substance).
Adrien Brody took home his second career Best Actor Oscar for his powerful portrayal of a Hungarian-Jewish architect rebuilding his life after the Holocaust in The Brutalist, which also picked up additional technical wins.
The supporting categories went to Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) for Best Supporting Actor and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) for Best Supporting Actress—the latter marking a historic win as the first Afro-Latina actress to claim the prize.
Other notable highlights included:
- Dune: Part Two securing two technical awards (continuing its visual spectacle legacy)
- Wicked earning two statuettes in musical categories
- Animated feature Flow winning Best Animated Feature
- Documentary No Other Land taking Best Documentary Feature
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony was described as relatively politics-light compared to recent years, with acceptance speeches focusing on craft, collaboration, and personal journeys rather than broader commentary.
Many winners, including Baker and Madison, used their moments to highlight independent filmmaking and underrepresented stories.
For South African viewers, while no local film secured a nomination this cycle (South Africa’s 2025 submission, Old Righteous Blues, did not advance to the shortlist), the global reach of the Oscars remains strong.
Platforms like Showmax, Netflix, and DStv carried extensive coverage and red-carpet specials, with many fans here drawing parallels between the indie triumph of Anora and the bold, character-driven storytelling often seen in South African cinema.
Looking ahead, attention is already turning to the 98th Academy Awards (set for March 2026), with South Africa submitting Imran Hamdulay’s The Heart Is a Muscle for the International Feature Film category—keeping local hopes alive for future Oscar recognition.
The 2025 ceremony once again proved why the Oscars remain the pinnacle of global film honours: unpredictable, emotional, and a celebration of cinema’s power to tell diverse stories.
*Disclaimer: This article was compiled using AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
