The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscar Awards, are the most prestigious film awards in the world. It was founded in 1927 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Motion Sciences (AMPAS). Since 1929, the Oscars have recognised excellence in cinematic achievements and outstanding work at acting, directing, screenplay, cinematography and technical works. Winning an Oscar is the highest honour in the film industry and it symbolises prestige and global recognition. Not only does it boost and cement the individual careers of artists in the film industry but it also drives a surge in the box office performance for nominated and winning films.
The Academy is divided into 17 main branches, each representing different aspects of filmmaking, for example actors, directors, writers, etc. The members of each branch vote within their respective categories to decide the nominees and the winners. However, the Best Picture Award, the most prestigious award in the Oscars, follows a preferential ballot system in which a movie has to secure a majority of first-choice votes. If a film receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, it wins immediately. Other categories have a plurality voting system, wherein a nominee with the most votes wins even if he does not secure the absolute majority.
The 97th Academy Awards was held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony was hosted by the famous comedian, Conan O’ Brien. The host in his opening monologue playfully teased the length of the previous ceremonies, joking that this year’s ceremony would be “shorter than an influencer’s attention span.” The event was full of laughs, commendable wins, memorable moments, and viral reactions.
The biggest winner of the night was ‘Anora’, a comedy-romance film, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker. It took home five Oscars, out of six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. The Best Actor award was won by Adrien Brody for his role in the movie, ‘The Brutalist’. This marked the actor’s second win in the category after 22 long years.
Stars from the ‘Wicked’ movie, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, delivered an emotional medley of songs inspired by The Wizard of Oz. The ‘Wicked’ movie was one of the top contenders of the night with ten nominations and made a notable impact at the Oscars.
Zoe Saldaña became the first Dominican-American actress to win an Oscar. The documentary ‘No Other Land’ won Best Documentary award. Beyond the awards, the Oscars continue to shape careers, and inspire future filmmakers, that extend far beyond Hollywood. The night witnessed dreams come true, reflecting how storytelling has the power to connect people across borders.
As the ceremony came to a close, Conan O’Brien took one last playful jab, joking that “next year’s host might be AI-generated, just like half the scripts in Hollywood.” The audience erupted in laughter, a perfect reminder of why the Oscars remain such a beloved tradition. A night where Hollywood celebrates itself, but also embraces the unpredictability, humour, and humanity that make movies magical in the first place.
