By Penny Theodorakopoulou,
Held on March 2, 2025, the 97th Academy Awards honored the year’s greatest accomplishments in filmmaking. The night was a mosaic of glitz, emotional performances, and historic victories that represented the changing face of the motion picture business.
Red Carpet: A symphony of style
Fashion has always been on display on the Oscars red carpet, and this year was no exception. Celebrities made daring decisions by fusing traditional elegance with modern flair. Interestingly, the fashion trend of bold and sheer clothing gained center stage. Julia Fox enthralled spectators in a transparent mesh dress designed by Dilara Findikoglu, which was modeled after Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus.” In a dress by Saint Laurent with a quirky porthole design and a transparent back, Zoë Kravitz attracted attention. Zoe Saldaña, who went on to make history with her victory, looked confident and elegant as she walked the stage in a semi-sheer Saint Laurent outfit.
Some celebrities chose classic elegance, while many adopted cutting-edge looks. In a sea of avant-garde design, Kit Price stood out in a timeless black tuxedo by Dolce & Gabbana, reminding guests of the timeless appeal of traditional tailoring.
Musical performances: A night of melody and tribute
The musical portions of the ceremony honored cinematic traditions while also celebrating film music. Setting an emotional tone for the evening, Ariana Grande began the evening with a powerful performance of “Over the Rainbow.” Cynthia Erivo’s amazing rendition of “Defying Gravity”, which featured her strong voice and stage presence, astounded onlookers. The James Bond series was recognized with a mix of well-known songs in recognition of its enduring influence on film. RAYE gave a moving rendition of “Skyfall”, Lisa from BLACKPINK invigorated the crowd with “Live and Let Die”, and Doja Cat performed “Diamonds Are Forever.” Halle Berry’s introduction of Margaret Qualley’s dance routine to the iconic Bond theme gave homage to a vibrant visual component.
Award winners and their speeches
Both anticipated wins and unexpected upsets occurred during the awards ceremony, and the winners gave heartfelt and genuine remarks.
Best Picture: Anora
Sean Baker’s film Anora won the prestigious Best Picture prize. Baker’s acceptance speech focused on the value of storytelling in overcoming cultural barriers and was a sincere acknowledgement of the teamwork that went into the movie.
Best Director: Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
For her efforts on the body horror parody The Substance, Coralie Fargeat became the ninth woman to win Best Director. Fargeat dedicated her award to aspiring female filmmakers throughout the world and emphasized the importance of female voices in genres that have historically been controlled by men in her remarks.
Best Actor: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for his performance in The Brutalist. In the Oscars’ longest acceptance speech, Brody discussed the value of resilience and the brittleness of the performing industry. In particular, he thanked his partner Georgina Chapman and her kids, saying, “I know it’s been a roller coaster, but thank you for accepting me into your life.”
Best Actress: Mikey Madison (Anora)
Mikey Madison’s performance in Anora made her the ninth-youngest winner of the Best Actress prize at the age of 25. Defying expectations, Madison gave a humble statement in which she thanked Demi Moore and other nominees and reaffirmed her dedication to roles that defy social standards.
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
Kieran Culkin won the Best Supporting Actor prize for his role in A Real Pain. During his address, Culkin related memories from the film’s production and sarcastically thanked his siblings for their assistance.
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
The first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar was Zoe Saldaña. In her dedication to her heritage, she said, “This is for the little girls who dare to dream beyond boundaries”.
Best Original Screenplay: Anora – Sean Baker
Anora’s original screenplay by Sean Baker received praise for its gripping story. In his victory address, Baker stressed the need of conveying a genuine story.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Conclave – Peter Straughan
Peter Straughan won the Best Adapted Screenplay prize for his Conclave adaptation. Straughan expressed gratitude to the film’s director and original author for their cooperation.
Best Original Song: “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez)
“El Mal” was the fifth song written in a language other than English to win this award. In their acceptance speech, the songwriters highlighted how music can transcend linguistic boundaries.
Best Animated Feature: Flow
The first independent animated film to win this category was Flow. The first Latvians to win an Academy Award, director Gints Zilbalodis and co-producer Matīss Kaža, said they hoped their victory would encourage future independent filmmakers.
Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
The first Academy Award-winning Palestinian film was No Other Land. Basel Adra, the award’s co-director, expressed gratitude to “all those who have struggled to have their voices heard”.
Best International Feature Film: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
The first Portuguese-language film to win Best International Feature Film was I’m Still Here. The prize was dedicated by director Walter Salles to Brazilians who have battled for justice.
Best Documentary Short Subject: The Only Girl in the Orchestra
The Only Girl in the Orchestra highlights the difficulties that female musicians confront. In her speech, director Molly O’Brien emphasized the value of representation.
Best Live Action Short Film: Incident
The captivating storyline of Incident enthralled viewers. Director Bill Morrison expressed gratitude to his staff for their steadfast commitment.
Best Animated Short Film: Beautiful Men
Themes of acceptance and identity were examined in Beautiful Men. Nicolas Keppens, the director, highlighted the storytelling potential of animation.
Best Original Score: Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol and Camille
Emilia Pérez‘s musical composition was essential to the plot of the movie. Composers Camille and Clément Ducol were appreciative of the honor.
Best Sound: Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two‘s audio experience received praise for its quality. The director was commended by the sound crew for his innovative technique.
Best Production Design: Wicked – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
The production design of Wicked brought the magical world to life. The prize was dedicated to their creative teams by Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales.
Best Cinematography: September 5 – Cinematography by Roger Deakins
The visual storytelling of Roger Deakins’ September 5 cinematography was praised. Deakins expressed gratitude to the crew and director for their cooperation.
The 97th Academy Awards were a historic occasion that honored innovative storytelling, a range of voices, and standout performances. This year’s Oscars will go down in history as a night where dreams came true, from the glittering red carpet to the moving speeches.
References
- The full list of Oscar winners. bbc. Available here
- See Every Look from the 2025 Oscars Red Carpet. vogue. Available here
- Key Oscar moments, from Zoe Saldaña’s emotional win and ‘Oz’ opening to Kieran Culkin’s baby wish. apnews. Available here
- Oscars 2025 highlights: Anora sweeps awards with best picture, best director and best actress – as it happened. the guardian. Available here
- Oscars 2025: ‘Anora’ cleans up, Adrien Brody and Zoe Saldana make history. cnbc.com. Available here
