Sean Baker wins Best Director Oscar for ‘Anora’

Anora helmer Sean Baker won the Oscar for Best Director at the 97th Academy Awards, besting Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance). Earlier in the night, he also won Best Achievement in Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture as he wrote, directed, edited, and produced Anora.

While a previous Baker film, The Florida Project, earned an Oscar nomination for Willem Dafoe’s terrific performance, Anora marks the first time Baker himself has gotten a nod from the Academy. On this Oscar night, he is also nominated for Best Picture, as a producer on Anora. His leading lady Mikey Madison also won an Oscar for Best Actress, while her co-star Yura Borisov snagged a Supporting Actor nom.

In his speech, Baker acknowledged presenter Quentin Tarantino, noting Madison’s breakthrough was in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. “If you didn’t cast Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time, there would be no Anora,” Baker said. He also then urged a call to action: Save the cinematic experience in theaters.

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“It’s a communal experience you just don’t get at home.” He urged viewers to support movie theaters, especially independent theaters. “Filmmakers keep making films for the big screen. I know I will.” He asked studios to prioritize theatrical release, and begged audiences to foster the theater experience.

Baker’s Oscar win comes on the heels of a Directors Guild of America award and Indie Spirit Awards for Best Director and Best Feature.

How to watch: Anora is available on Prime Video for rent or purchase.