Sean Baker ties Walt Disney’s 1954 Oscar record with his film ‘Anora’
‘Anora’ director Baker equalled a 71-year-old Oscars record on Sunday, as his film enjoyed a successful night at the Academy Awards.
Director Sean Baker equalled a seven-decade-old record at the Oscars on Sunday night, as his movie Anora dominated the 97th Academy Awards.
Baker emulates Disney with quartet of Oscar wins
By claiming the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay, Baker tied Walt Disney’s record for the most award wins by an individual at a single Academy Awards ceremony.
Disney took home four golden statuettes at the 1954 Oscars, winning the awards for Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Animated Short Film and Best Short Subject (Two-Reel).
Baker is the first person to pick up four Oscars for the same movie, as Disney’s victories were for several different productions: The Living Desert; The Alaskan Eskimo; Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom; and Bear Country.
Which other Oscars did Anora win?
Anora won an unmatched five awards on Sunday. On top of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay, the Best Actress accolade went to the romantic comedy-drama’s star, Mikey Madison.
The only category in which Anora was nominated and failed to secure the Oscar was Best Supporting Actor. Yura Borisov lost out to A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin, who had been the heavy pre-awards favorite.
The second-most successful film at this weekend’s Oscars was The Brutalist, which collected three awards. Most notably, the film’s lead, Adrien Brody, was named Best Actor for the second time in his career, having also earned the accolade in 2003 for his performance in The Pianist.
Best Actress winner Mikey Madison at the 97th #Oscars
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
Photo Credit: Roger Kisby pic.twitter.com/jxmC7UH1fF
How did Baker react to his Best Director win?
In his acceptance speech after winning Best Director, Baker made a plea to film fans to support their local cinemas, noting that the U.S. lost “nearly 1,000 screens” during the covid-19 pandemic. “The theater-going experience is under threat,” the 54-year-old declared.
“Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater. Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience: we can laugh together, cry together, scream in fright together, perhaps sit in devastated silence together.
“And in a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever. It’s a communal experience you simply don’t get at home.”
Baker concluded: “This is my battle cry: filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will.”
Watch Sean Baker’s Best Director acceptance speech:
‘Anora’ wins 2025 Best Picture Oscar
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