Big wins at Oscars

The 2025 Academy Awards, which was staged at the Dolby Theater in Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, were nothing short of extraordinary.

In a night that celebrated exceptional artistry across cinema, one name stood out- Sean Baker. The acclaimed director made history by winning an astounding four Oscars for his film Anora, tying Walt Disney’s long-standing 1954 record for the most Oscars won in a single night.

Sean’s victory marked a monumental moment for the film industry. He won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing, making Anorathe most awarded film of the evening.

This historic win mirrors Disney’s success 71 years ago, when he claimed four Oscars for various films, including The Living Desert, Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, The Alaskan Eskimo, and Bear Country.

Anora not only dominated in the creative categories but also saw Mikey Madison take home the Oscar for Best Actress. At just 25, Mikey’s performance in the title role made her the youngest Best Actress winner since Jennifer Lawrence won for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013. Anora had a strong presence throughout the evening, with its five total wins cementing its place as the night’s biggest winner.

In contrast, The Brutalist, which earned three Oscars, took home significant honours, including Adrien Brody’s win for Best Actor. Adrien, who had previously won an Oscar 22 years ago for The Pianist, became the third actor since 2000 to secure two Best Actor Oscars.

Kieran Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor win for A Real Pain was a notable moment, especially considering his film wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. Kieran’s victory marks him as the first actor to win in this category without the film receiving a Best Picture nomination since Christopher Plummer in 2012.

He also shared a playful and heartfelt moment with his wife, Jazz Smollett, mentioning their growing family. The father-of-four, joked to her, saying, “Well, I guess we’re going to need a bigger house now!”

Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña, taking home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in Emilia Pérez, made history as the first actor of Dominican descent to win an Oscar. Not only that, but Zoes performance also included singing the Oscar-winning song "El Mal", making her one of the few actors to win an Oscar for a role that involved performing an award-winning song.

The music category was another standout moment of the evening. "El Mal", the song from Emilia Pérez, won Best Original Song, marking the second time in three years that a non-English song took the prize. Sung in Spanish, "El Mal" was co-written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard, who also directed the film. Audiard made history as the second person to win an Oscar for a song he wrote and directed, following in the footsteps of Joe Brooks who won in 1978 for "You Light Up My Life".

Clément and Camille’s romantic collaboration also made them the sixth couple to win in this category, joining the ranks of legendary songwriting duos like Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

The Best Original Score Oscar went to Daniel Blumberg for The Brutalist, a film that showcased his multifaceted talent as a composer, producer, and performer. At just 35 years old, Blumberg’s win adds to his growing recognition in the music and film industries.

In animation, Flow made history as the first indie film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, and it also became the first Latvian film to claim any Oscar.

One of the most inspiring stories of the night came in the Best Costume Design category, where Paul Tazewell won for Wicked. Paul’s victory made him the second Black costume designer in history to win the award, following Ruth E Carter, who won for both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The 2025 Academy Awards will be remembered for its diverse wins and the groundbreaking accomplishments of filmmakers and performers alike. From Sean Baker’s historic achievement with Anora to the unforgettable performances in The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, this year’s Oscars demonstrated the power of storytelling in all its forms.

The evening not only celebrated established talent but also showcased rising stars, bringing a refreshing sense of progress and inclusivity to the Academy Awards stage.