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.
9. Best Director
Sean Baker, winner of the award for best director for 'Anora', poses in the press room at the Oscars. Anora scooped a high for the night of five wins from six overall nominations. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
10. Best Adapted Screenplay
Peter Straughan, winner of the award for best adapted screenplay for 'Conclave', poses in the press room at the Oscars. On stage, British writer Straughan thanked fellow writer Robert Harris, who wrote the original novel, for his “beautiful book”, saying “we’re all standing on your shoulders” and also paid tribute to producer Tessa Ross and director Edward Berger. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
11. Other award winners
Iranian animator Hossein Molayemi (centre) holds the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for "In the Shadow of the Cypress" as he attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Other winners on the night were I'm Still Here as Best International Feature, Flow as Best Animated Feature, Anora for Best Original Screenplay, El Mal (Emilia Pérez) as Best Original Song, The Brutalist for Best Original Score and No Other Land as Best Documentary Feature. Rounding out the Oscar winners was The Substance for Best Make-Up and Hair Styling, Anora for Best Film Editing, The Brutalist for Best Cinematography, Dune: Part Two for Best Visual Effects and I'm Not a Robot as Best Live Action Short. The Only Girl in the Orchestra was crowned Best Documentary Short | PA