Anora makes Oscars history as low-budget film wins 5 awards in impressive first
In the face of tough competition, the indie movie triumphed, with the most wins of the night.
Anora has triumphed at the 2025 Oscars, netting five Academy Awards and an impressive first-time distinction for writer-director Sean Baker.
The indie film, made for just $6million (£4.7m), was the big winner of the night, taking home major gongs including best picture, best director and best actress for its 25-year-old star, Mikey Madison.
Sean Baker also won best original screenplay and best film editing, becoming the first person to win four Oscars in one night for a single film.
He ties with Walt Disney’s record, although the animation trailblazer won his awards for separate films in 1953.
Madison denied Demi Moore her best actress Oscar comeback win, who was considered by many as the front-runner further out from the ceremony for her turn as fading Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle in body horror The Substance.
Instead, Oscars voters opted to give Madison – best known for her roles in the Scream franchise and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood ahead of Anora – her fairytale ending instead as a first-time nominee then winner.
Mikey Madison was crowned best leading actress for her performance as a sex worker (Picture: John Salangsang/BEI/Shutterstock)It was also a fairytale night for Baker with his four wins for the film, as the auteur’s end-to-end process was celebrated thanks to his triumphs as a writer, director, editor and producer.
He quipped in his acceptance speech for editing: ‘I saved this film in the edit, trust me. That director should never work again!
‘No truly, I consider editing to be half my directing and a third of my screen writing so this means everything, it’s a real validation for me.’
Madison called the experience of accepting her first Oscar ‘very surreal’, and noted: ‘I grew up in Los Angeles but Hollywood felt so far away.’
Sean Baker became the first person to win four Oscars in one night for the same film (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)She added: ‘I want to recognise and again honour the sex worker community, I will continue to support [them] and be an ally.’
Madison also said that she wanted to thank the ‘intelligent, beautiful and breathtaking work’ of her fellow nominees.
Elsewhere, The Brutalist picked up three wins, with Adrien Brody winning best actor again, 22 years after he became the youngest winner to triumph in the category aged 29 for The Pianist.
It also took home best cinematography and best original score.
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