It was a huge night for independent films at the Oscars, with Anora claiming the most gongs on the night after winning five awards from six nominations.
Anora star Mikey Madison led the winners, honouring the sex work community in her Oscars acceptance speech as she collected the leading actress gong during Sunday’s ceremony.
The 25-year-old from Los Angeles beat competition from stars including Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and The Substance actress Demi Moore, who was the favourite to win at this year’s awards.
Anora, which follows a young sex worker who falls in a love with the son of a Russian oligarch, was also crowned as best picture.
Accepting her acting award, Madison said: “This is very surreal. Forgive me, I’m nervous, I’m gonna read off of a paper, but thank you so much to the Academy.
“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me, so to be here standing in this room today is really incredible.”
She also thanked Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach “for lending us your beautiful backdrop and incredible community”.
“I also want to again recognise and honour the sex worker community,” she said.
“I will continue to support and be an ally, all of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community, has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.
“I also just want to recognise the thoughtful, intelligent, beautiful, breath-taking work of my fellow nominees.”
Here is the rest of the winners on the night at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony.
5. Best Picture
Anora was crowned best picture, and also won for film editing, original screenplay and best director for Sean Baker, who used his speech to make a plea for the return of theatregoers to cinemas following the pandemic. | Contributed
6. Best Sound
(Left to right) Gareth John, Richard King and Ron Bartlett, winners of the award for best sound for 'Dune: Part Two' pose in the press room at the Oscars | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
7. Production Design
Cynthia Erivo left, and Ariana Grande on stage during the Oscars on Sunday. Wicked won the Oscar for production design, with Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales accepting the award for their work on the hit musical | Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
8. Best Costume Design
Paul Tazewell, winner of the award for best costume design for 'Wicked', poses in the press room at the Oscars. The American film costumer designer who created the outfits for The Wizard Of Oz prequel said he was “the first black man” to have received the prize, and thanked “everyone in the UK”, who helped on the musical production as he received a standing ovation from the attendees. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP