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"Anora," a gritty strip club Cinderella story without a fairy-tale ending, claimed the Best Picture award at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, marking a victory for Sean Baker’s Brooklyn-based screwball farce, reports AP. Despite a tumultuous Oscar season, "Anora" – the Palme d'Or winner at Cannes – emerged as the surprising frontrunner. ‘No Other Land’ Wins Oscar for Best Documentary The $6 million film, which tells the story of an erotic dancer who runs away with the son of a Russian oligarch, stood out for its explicit nature, atypical for a Best Picture winner. Oscar voters overlooked blockbuster contenders like "Wicked" and "Dune: Part Two," instead adding "Anora" to a recent list of indie Best Picture winners, including "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "CODA," and "Nomadland." For a film industry transformed by streaming and economic uncertainty, Baker and "Anora" represented a return to cinematic purity. On the campaign trail, Baker advocated for a return to the 90-day exclusive theatrical release. "Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater," he remarked. Baker's four Oscar wins on Sunday tied a record held by Walt Disney, who achieved the same feat in 1954. It's an ironic connection, as Baker’s previous film, "The Florida Project," was set in a budget motel near Disney World. “Long live independent film!” Baker shouted from the stage. Of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture, eight walked away with at least one award. Acting awards went to Madison, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, and Zoe Saldaña. Brody won Best Actor for his portrayal of a Holocaust survivor in "The Brutalist," a performance that earned him his second Oscar, 22 years after his first for "The Pianist." "I pray for a healthier and happier and more inclusive world," Brody said in his acceptance speech. Madison triumphed in the Best Actress category for her breakthrough performance in "Anora," defeating Demi Moore, the frontrunner for "The Substance." Both she and Baker, like at Cannes, honoured the lives of sex workers in their speeches. Netflix’s "Emilia Pérez," despite a controversy involving star Karla Sofía Gascón’s offensive tweets, won Best Song and Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña. "I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award," Saldaña proudly said. ‘I’m Still Here’ wins Oscar for best international film Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor early in the evening for "A Real Pain." In his speech, he joked about a promise made by his wife, Jazz Charton, to have a fourth child if he won an Oscar. One of the night’s surprises was the Best Animated Feature win for the Latvian film "Flow," which defeated DreamWorks’ "The Wild Robot." The win marked the first-ever Oscar for a Latvian film. "Wicked," the biggest box-office hit among the Best Picture nominees, won awards for production design and costume design. Costume designer Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win the award, earning a standing ovation. "Dune: Part Two" claimed wins for visual effects and sound, with its iconic sandworm making several appearances during the evening. "The Brutalist" took home Oscars for cinematography and score. Politics were mostly absent from the ceremony, although "Slava Ukraini" ("Glory to Ukraine!") was briefly mentioned. The Best Documentary award went to "No Other Land," a film about Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while "I’m Still Here," a portrayal of resistance in Brazil during the military dictatorship, won Best International Film. Host Conan O’Brien opened the ceremony with self-deprecating humour and avoided politics, focusing instead on celebrating Los Angeles’ resilience following wildfires. His monologue was well-received, and his musical routine was a highlight. This year’s unpredictable Oscars took place amid a challenging year for the film industry, with ticket sales down and production disruptions caused by strikes. While smaller independent films dominated the awards, the Academy will face the challenge of maintaining high viewership. The ceremony also paid tribute to Gene Hackman, the legendary two-time Oscar winner, who passed away earlier in the week. Morgan Freeman honoured Hackman, calling him a "giant" in the industry and a dear friend.

The Brazilian film I’m Still Here won the Oscar for Best International Film on Sunday. Directed by Walter Salles, the movie tells the story of a family affected by Brazil's military dictatorship, which ruled the country for over two decades, reports AP. The film stars Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, the wife of Rubens Paiva, a former left-wing congressman who was forcibly taken from his family’s home in Rio de Janeiro in 1971 and disappeared under the dictatorship. ‘No Other Land’ Wins Oscar for Best Documentary Based on the memoir of Paiva’s son Marcelo, the story focuses on Eunice, a mother of five who is left to rebuild her life without her husband and with no answers about his disappearance. The film portrays a different form of political resistance—one characterised by perseverance and resilience. Eunice's unwavering defiance to the military regime is evident throughout the film. In one poignant moment, she instructs her children to smile for a newspaper photograph, despite their long separation from their father. Torres explained that the smile represents a form of resistance, noting, “It’s not that they’re living happily. It’s a tragedy. Marcelo recently said something Eunice said that I had never heard: ‘We are not a victim. The victim is the country.’” I’m Still Here is a deeply Brazilian tale, created by one of the nation’s most renowned directors, Walter Salles, whose previous works include Central Station and Motorcycle Diaries. The film also features a late appearance by Fernanda Montenegro, the daughter of one of Brazil’s greatest stars, who plays the older Eunice. 97th Academy Awards underway Other films nominated for Best International Film included Denmark’s The Girl with the Needle, Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Latvia’s Flow, and France’s Emilia Pérez, which had once been a favourite but was overshadowed by controversy.

Indian cinema has a long history of making its mark at the Oscars, from classic nominations like ‘Mother India’ (1957) to recent successes such as ‘RRR’ (2022). While competition remains fierce, hopes are high again as ‘Laapataa Ladies’ prepares to enter the race for the Best International Feature Film title. Let’s take a close look into the rising buzz surrounding the film. The Journey of ‘Laapataa Ladies’: From Theatrical Miss to Netflix Success Produced by Jio Studios, Aamir Khan Productions, and Kindling Pictures, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ premiered on September 8, 2023, at the Toronto International Film Festival. After its theatrical release on March 1, 2024, the initial reception was unfavorable. However, the satirical film found new life following its Netflix debut on April 26, garnering widespread acclaim. The movie was directed by Kiran Rao. The production credit goes to Rao, Aamir Khan, and Jyoti Deshpande. The cast features Pratibha Ranta, Nitanshi Goyel, Chhaya Kadam, Sparsh Shrivastava, Abhay Shankar Dubey, Geeta Aggarwal Sharma, Ravi Kishan, and Durgesh Kumar. Read more: October 2024 Bollywood Release Lineup: Top 10 Hindi Movies to Watch ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Sets Its Sights on the Oscars On Monday, September 23, the Film Federation of India announced ‘Laapataa Ladies’ as its official entry for the 97th Academy Awards. This film will compete for a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category, representing India on the global stage. The selection committee, consisting of 13 members and chaired by acclaimed Assamese director Jahnu Barua, has made this decision. The selection process saw the movie outshine 29 notable contenders, including Cannes winner ‘All We Imagine as Light’, the Bollywood hit ‘Animal’, and the Malayalam film ‘Aattam’. As per Oscar rules, only one film from each country can be submitted for the Best International Feature Film category. A shortlist of 15 films is created from entries submitted worldwide, from which 5 will be nominated for the final event. Read more: Must-watch South Indian Films Releasing in October 2024