Anora director dedicates Oscar win to sex workers in emotional acceptance speech
Anora writer and director Sean Baker stated he's 'sharing' the Oscar for best original screenplay with the sex worker community.
The writer and director - known for his work amplifying voices and experiences of those in the sex industry - took to the stage at the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to accept the award for best original screenplay.
Reflecting on how 'crazy' it all is, Baker went on to thank the Academy, his team alongside the 'of course, incredible, incredible cast' from Mikey Madison to all involved, complimenting them for 'elevating everything' he wrote.
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He continued: "I want to thank the sex worker community - they have shared their stories, they have shared their life experiences with me over the years.
"My deepest respect, thank you, I share this with you."
Baker previously reflected to UNILAD he was slightly taken aback by the 'universal love and support of' the film given its subject matter.
He told UNILAD: "I thought just the subject matter alone would cause the film to be a little more divisive [...] so that's encouraging.
He continued: "This is my fifth film that covers the subject matter so each time I do it, it's another individual story that shows a different aspect of sex work but hopefully done in a way that allows audiences to connect with the main character - have empathy for the main character. And remove, or hopefully help remove, the unfair stigma [surrounding the adult industry]."
Baker is quick to note the themes 'tackled in the film are really presented to the audience in a way that is left up for interpretation'.
"I think people can apply their own histories to these things, their own politics," he says. "I think that's part of why I wanted to make this film - to spark discussion."
Anora is also up for Best Picture, star Madison for Best Actor, Yuriy Borisov for Best Supporting Actor and Baker for Best Director.
At the time of writing, the film also just took home the award for Best Editing, with Baker thanking all the cast and crew but 'three individuals' in particular for being the only members allowed in the editing room.
Oscars 2025 results: the nominees and winners announced so far
Best supporting actor
Yura Borisov - Anora
Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain - WINNER
Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce - The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong - The Apprentice
Best animated feature
Flow - WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best costume design
Wicked - WINNER
Nosferatu
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Best original screenplay
Anora - Sean Baker - WINNER
The Brutalist - Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold
A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg
September 5 - Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, Alex David
The Substance - Coralie Fargeat
Best adapted screenplay
A Complete Unknown - Jay Cocks and James Mangold
Conclave - Peter Straughan - WINNER
Emilia Pérez - Jacques Audiard
Nickel Boys - RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
Sing Sing - Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Best make-up and hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Pérez
Nosferatu
The Substance - WINNER
Wicked
Best film editing
Anora - WINNER
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
Best original score
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best supporting actress
Monica Barbaro - A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande - Wicked
Felicity Jones - The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini - Conclave
Zoe Saldaña - Emilia Pérez
Best original song
'Never Too Late' - Elton John: Never Too Late
'El Mal' - Emilia Pérez
'Mi Camino' - Emilia Pérez
'Like A Bird' - Sing Sing
'The Journey' - The Six Triple Eight
Best international feature
I'm Still Here - Brazil
The Girl with the Needle - Denmark
Emilia Pérez - France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig - Germany
Flow - Latvia
Best production design
Wicked
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Conclave
Best sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Best visual effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Best cinematography
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
Maria
Nosferatu
Best actor
Adrien Brody - The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet - A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes - Conclave
Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice
Best director
Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker - Anora
Brady Corbet - The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat - The Substance
James Mangold - A Complete Unknown
Best actress
Cynthia Erivo - Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón - Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison - Anora
Demi Moore - The Substance
Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here
Best picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I'm Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Poppy Bilderbeck