The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, honored the finest achievements in filmmaking from 2024. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony celebrated artistic and technical excellence in cinema, bringing together industry veterans and emerging talents alike. This educational guide provides an in-depth look at the winners and nominees across all major categories, along with key moments from the event.
Introduction to the 2025 Oscars
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, recognize outstanding achievements in the film industry. The ceremony includes awards in acting, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and more. This year, the Academy emphasized independent storytelling and international contributions, reflecting a more diverse and inclusive cinematic landscape.
Major Award Categories and Winners
Best Picture
- Winner: Anora – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker (Producers)
- Nominees:
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Best Director
- Winner: Sean Baker (Anora)
- Nominees:
- Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)
- James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
- Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
- Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)
Acting Categories
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Winner: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
- Nominees:
- Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
- Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
- Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Winner: Mikey Madison (Anora)
- Nominees:
- Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
- Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez)
- Demi Moore (The Substance)
- Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Winner: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
- Nominees:
- Yura Borisov (Anora)
- Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
- Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
- Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Winner: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
- Nominees:
- Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
- Ariana Grande (Wicked)
- Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
- Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Technical and Artistic Achievements
Best Cinematography
- Winner: Lol Crawley (The Brutalist)
- Nominees:
- Dune: Part Two – Greig Fraser
- Emilia Pérez – Paul Guilhaume
- Maria – Ed Lachman
- Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke
Best Film Editing
- Winner: Anora – Sean Baker
- Nominees:
- The Brutalist – David Jancso
- Conclave – Nick Emerson
- Emilia Pérez – Juliette Welfling
- Wicked – Myron Kerstein
Best Costume Design
- Winner: Paul Tazewell (Wicked)
- Nominees:
- Arianne Phillips (A Complete Unknown)
- Lisy Christl (Conclave)
- Janty Yates and Dave Crossman (Gladiator II)
- Linda Muir (Nosferatu)
Best Production Design
- Winner: Wicked – Nathan Crowley (Production Design), Lee Sandales (Set Decoration)
- Nominees:
- The Brutalist – Judy Becker, Patricia Cuccia
- Conclave – Suzie Davies, Cynthia Sleiter
- Dune: Part Two – Patrice Vermette, Shane Vieau
- Nosferatu – Craig Lathrop, Beatrice Brentnerová
Music and Sound Categories
Best Original Score
- Winner: The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg
- Nominees:
- Conclave – Volker Bertelmann
- Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol and Camille
- Wicked – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
- The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers
Best Original Song
- Winner: “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) – Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; Lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard
- Nominees:
- “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight) – Diane Warren
- “Like A Bird” (Sing Sing) – Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada
- “Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez) – Camille and Clément Ducol
- “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late) – Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin
Animation and International Film Categories
Best Animated Feature Film
- Winner: Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
- Nominees:
- Inside Out 2
- Memoir of a Snail
- Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
- The Wild Robot
Best International Feature Film
- Winner: I’m Still Here (Brazil)
- Nominees:
- The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
- Emilia Pérez (France)
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
- Flow (Latvia)
Conclusion
The 2025 Oscars honored a diverse array of films, celebrating creative storytelling and technical innovation. Independent films, international cinema, and bold artistic choices played a central role, reflecting the evolving landscape of the global film industry. This year’s ceremony not only recognized Hollywood excellence but also amplified voices from around the world, setting a new standard for inclusivity and artistic vision in cinema.