Opinion: A Hectic Night at the 2025 Oscars Ends with Independent Cinema as the Biggest Winner

The 97th annual Academy Awards took place on Sunday evening, marking the pinnacle of the film year and setting the stage for the upcoming movie releases.

Best Picture favorites in previous years have often been easily identifiable, with “Everything Everywhere All At Once” winning big in 2023 and “Oppenheimer” leading the charge for 2024. However, this year saw a more competitive race featuring films like “Conclave,” “The Brutalist,” and “Anora,” each alternating as critics’ darling leading up to the ceremony.

Ultimately, it was “Anora” that secured the coveted Best Picture award, while its director Sean Baker made history by winning several awards in one night. He clinched the titles for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, setting a new record for the most Oscars won by a single individual in one ceremony for the same film.

While “Anora” enjoyed considerable success, the Best Actress category had been largely anticipated to go to Demi Moore for her acclaimed role in “The Substance.” In a surprising turn of events, it was 25-year-old Mikey Madison from “Anora” who took home the Best Actress award, making it one of the biggest surprises of the night.

Other Oscars followed a predictable path, with Kieran Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor for “A Real Pain,” though his acceptance speech was briefly censored due to inappropriate language. Meanwhile, Adrien Brody claimed the Best Actor award for his work in “The Brutalist,” despite potential setbacks from AI enhancements in his performance.

The evening's host, Conan O’Brien, kept the audience entertained with typical pop culture references, although his jokes led to an awkward moment involving “Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofia Gascón, who has faced public scrutiny for past social media posts. Despite numerous nominations, “Emilia Pérez” only walked away with two awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña and Best Original Song for “El Mal.”

As the evening unfolded, certain snubs stood out, particularly Demi Moore's unexpected loss and a near-empty night for “Conclave,” which collected only a single award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Notably, “Nickel Boys” failed to win any awards, leaving many fans disappointed.

Additionally, some fan-favorite films, including “Challengers,” received no nominations, and even well-regarded titles like “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” were absent from the race for Best Visual Effects. Similarly, poignant films such as “A Real Pain” and “Sing Sing” were overlooked in the Best Picture category, overshadowed by less favored contenders.

Regardless of the snubs, independent cinema emerged as a key victor on this prestigious night, largely thanks to the success of “Anora.” Sean Baker capitalized on his film's prominence to champion indie films, advocating for their importance during his acceptance speeches.

Baker stated, “Movie theaters, especially independently owned theaters, are struggling, and it’s up to us to support them. During the pandemic, we lost nearly 1,000 screens in the U.S., and we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture. This is my battle cry: Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will.”

While “Anora” may not have been universally beloved, its win for Best Picture represents a significant achievement for independent cinema, proving that such films can still shine bright in an industry increasingly dominated by blockbuster hits and streaming releases.

Oscars, Anora, independent