Oscars 2025: Sean Baker takes home Best Director for 'Anora'
What's the story
Sean Baker has emerged victorious in a fiercely contested Best Director race at the Academy Awards, securing victory over The Brutalist's Brady Corbet.
Baker's win comes for Anora, a quirky yet heartfelt drama centered on a Brooklyn sex worker who unexpectedly marries the son of a Russian oligarch.
To note, Baker had never previously received an Oscar nomination for directing.
Speech
Baker urged audiences to continue supporting theatrical movie releases
While accepting his third Oscar of the night, the Anora director urged audiences to continue supporting theatrical movie-going despite the dominance of streaming services.
"Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater," Baker said, adding, "Watching a film in the theater...is an experience we can laugh together, cry together, scream in fright together, perhaps sit in devastated silence together."
Twitter Post
Take a look at Baker's acceptance speech
Sean Baker makes a plea for seeing movies in theaters while accepting best director for #Anora at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/2uSg1QcIQf
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 3, 2025