97th Academy Awards: On March 2, 2025 at the 97th Academy Awards Conan O’Brien guided the ceremony as host while Los Angeles remained affected by wildfires. People joined together through the film event to celebrate achievements while supporting their neighbours who lost homes in natural disasters. Our analysis explores the films chosen by the Academy and shares details about their winners alongside their unique productions.
97th Academy Awards Best Picture
- Nominees:
- A Complete Unknown
- A Real Pain
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
- Winner: Nickel Boys emerged victorious after surprising everyone because RaMell Ross made this film that showcases the Academy’s new acceptance for important social subjects in artistic productions. This movie takes storey elements from Colson Whitehead’s book to show how African American boys suffered in a brutal reform school while revealing their strength against racial prejudice.
Best Director
- Nominees:
- Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez
- Sean Baker for Anora
- Brady Corbet for The Brutalist
- Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light
- James Mangold for A Complete Unknown
- Winner: Brady Corbet captured the jury when he told the storey of an immigrant architect’s America journey in The Brutalist. Audiences recognised the deep emotional content and intelligent direction of his approach.
Best Actor
- Nominees:
- Adrien Brody earned his second Oscar for his work in The Brutalist.
- Timothée Chalamet performed brilliantly in A Complete Unknown.
- Daniel Craig for Queer
- Colman Domingo for Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes for Conclave
- Winner: Adrien Brody showed us how to play an architect struggling with identity theft through a compelling performance that won him his second Oscar and his first from The Pianist in 2002.
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Best Actress
- Nominees:
- Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez
- Angelina Jolie for Maria
- Nicole Kidman for Babygirl
- Demi Moore for The Substance
- Mikey Madison for Anora
- Winner: When she returned to acting in The Substance Demi Moore impressed everyone by delivering a resilient and honest performance that received the Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor
- Nominees:
- Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
- Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown
- Yura Borisov for Anora
- Guy Pearce for The Brutalist
- Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice
- Winner: Audiences acknowledged Kieran Culkin’s ability to portray serious emotions and comedy in A Real Pain to win this award.
Best Supporting Actress
- Nominees:
- Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez
- Margaret Qualley for The Substance
- Felicity Jones for The Brutalist
- Isabella Rossellini for Conclave
- Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez
- Winner: Zoe Saldaña received Academy recognition in Emilia Pérez because her compelling performance as a lawyer changed through criminal activity impressed audiences.
Best Original Screenplay
- Nominees:
- Anora by Sean Baker
- The Brutalist by Brady Corbet
- Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard
- The Substance by Coralie Fargeat
- Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman
- Winner: According to Sean Baker and the Academy the screenplay Anora stands out for its innovative portrayal of love and social standing that brings laughter and sadness.
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Nominees:
- A Complete Unknown by Jay Cocks
- Conclave by Peter Morgan
- Nickel Boys by RaMell Ross
- Sing Sing by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
- The Last Showgirl by Jamie Lee Curtis
- Winner: Conclave by Peter Morgan – His adaptation of the novel into a thrilling narrative set in the Vatican was both suspenseful and insightful, capturing the intricacies of papal election.
Best Animated Feature Film
- Nominees:
- Flow
- Inside Out 2
- The Wild Robot
- Winner: Flow – This animated feature was celebrated for its innovative storytelling and breathtaking animation, pushing the boundaries of what animated films can convey about human emotions.
Best International Feature Film
- Nominees:
- All We Imagine as Light (India)
- Emilia Pérez (France)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Iran)
- Winner: Emilia Pérez (France) – This film’s exploration of identity, crime, and redemption through the lens of a trans crime boss was both entertaining and thought-provoking, securing it the win in this category.
Additional Notable Wins and Nominations:
- Best Cinematography was awarded to Dune: Part Two, continuing to recognize the series’ visual mastery.
- Best Original Song went to Emilia Pérez, with the song becoming an anthem for transformation and acceptance.
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling recognized The Substance for its innovative and sometimes grotesque transformation effects.
- Best Score was awarded to Challengers, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross adding another Oscar to their collection for their pulsating electronic score.
The 97th Oscars reflected a year where the Academy seemed to favor films that were not only visually stunning but also deeply engaging with contemporary societal issues. From the historical drama of The Brutalist to the social commentary of Nickel Boys, this year’s winners painted a broad stroke across the canvas of what cinema can achieve.
This ceremony, under the unique circumstances of natural disaster, also served as a reminder of the resilience of the film community and its capacity to come together in celebration and support. The Academy’s choice of Conan O’Brien as host brought a light-hearted touch to an event that was both a celebration and a moment of reflection for the industry.
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As we look forward to the future of cinema, the themes and stories of 2025’s Academy Awards will undoubtedly influence and inspire the narratives to come, continuing the rich tradition of storytelling in film.
This article aims to encapsulate the essence of the 97th Academy Awards, touching on the major categories, the stories behind the films, and the cultural impact of this year’s cinematic achievements.