In the 97th edition of the Academy Awards, the film "Anora" directed by Sean Baker won the coveted award for Best Picture, surpassing other nominees such as "The Brutalist", "A Complete Stranger", "Conclave", "Dune: Part Two", "Emilia Pérez", "Ainda Estou Aqui", "Nickel Boys", and "Wicked". The story revolves around a New York stripper who falls in love with a Russian heir, only to discover that her fairy tale is a nightmare, and it is already showing in theaters.
Another historic moment was the triumph of "Ainda Estou Aqui" in the category of Best International Film, marking the first Oscar in the history of Brazilian cinema. Directed by Walter Salles, the film is based on the disappearance of former deputy Rubens Paiva during the dictatorship of 1971 and the struggle of his widow Eunice Paiva. This significant achievement occurred despite "Emilia Pérez" leading with 13 nominations but only winning two awards in total.
In his speech, Sean Baker called for the preservation of the magic of cinema in theaters, reminding everyone that they are there for their love of films. The gala began with a musical number by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, performing classic songs, and also included tributes to Agent 007 and to the Los Angeles firefighters who fought wildfires in January.
The night also brought surprises in the acting categories: Mikey Madison took home the award for Best Actress beating Demi Moore, Kieran Culkin won for Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, becoming the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar.
With these results, "Anora" emerged as the big winner of the night, while Brazil celebrated its first statue in the history of Latin American cinema, marking an important milestone in the industry.
