Anora, the story of a New York sex worker who gets a chance at a new life when she marries a wealthy Russian client on a whim, won five Academy Awards on Sunday, including the coveted Best Picture Oscar.
The movie’s 25-year-old star, Mikey Madison, was named Best Actress.
The film also earned the Best Director award for Sean Baker and trophies for original screenplay and editing.
Anora was made for $6 million, a tiny sum by Hollywood standards. It emerged as the winner in an unpredictable Oscars race, including the papal thriller Conclave, Jewish immigrant story The Brutalist, and blockbuster musical Wicked.
Madison scored an upset over Demi Moore, who had been favoured to win Best Actress for her role in The Substance.
Adrien Brody wins Best Actor
Adrien Brody claimed his second Oscar, winning best actor for his role as a Jewish immigrant and architect who chases the American dream in The Brutalist. His first win came 20 years ago for The Pianist when he was 29.
Zoe Saldana was named Best Supporting Actress for her role as the fixer for a Mexican drug lord in Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language musical released on Netflix.
The movie, which also won best original song for ‘El Mal,’ was a favourite for best picture earlier this year. Its chances dwindled when offensive social media posts surfaced from star Karla Sofia Gascon.
The actor, the first openly transgender person nominated for an acting Oscar, disappeared from the awards circuit but attended Sunday’s ceremony.
Kieran Culkinkin received the Best Supporting Actor award for playing one of two cousins who travel to Poland to study their family’s roots in A Real Pain.
