Sean Baker took center stage at the Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, as he accepted the Oscar for Best Director, honoring his acclaimed indie film, Anora. His victory, presented by the legendary director Quentin Tarantino, not only underscored Baker's impressive directorial skills but also highlighted the interconnectedness of filmmakers within the industry.
During his acceptance speech, Baker took a moment to express gratitude to Tarantino, particularly for casting Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, stating, "If you didn’t cast Mikey Madison, there would be no 'Anora.'" This recognition of Tarantino's impact set the tone for his passionate address about preserving the sanctity and experience of theater-going.
Baker's speech served as both a celebration and rallying cry for cinema enthusiasts, as he urged filmmakers to continue creating content for the big screen. "We’re all here tonight and watching this broadcast because we love movies. Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater," he declared emphatically. The director emphasized the importance of experiencing films together with audiences—a sentiment he felt was especially relevant in today's fractured societal climate.
"Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience. We can laugh together, cry together, and, in a time when the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever," Baker articulated, underscoring the communal aspect of the movie-going experience. He went on to highlight the precarious state of theaters, stating, "Movie theaters, especially independently-owned theaters are struggling. During the pandemic, we lost 1,000 screens in the U.S. And we continue to lose them regularly." His call to action prompted attendees to reassess their role in supporting local theaters.
Baker's concerns are echoed widely as the cinema industry grapples with challenges stemming from the pandemic and rising digital streaming. "If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vitally important part of our culture. This is my battle cry," he warned, emphasizing the need for audiences to cherish and protect the theater experience.
His heartfelt speech also included appreciation for his mother, who he credited with introducing him to cinema early on and who he honored during his speech by mentioning her birthday. Baker's win represented the high point of his recent resurgence within the film community, which began when Anora was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Following its theatrical release through Neon, the film garnered numerous honors from critics, culminating with Baker's recognition at the Directors Guild of America Awards earlier this year.
Competing against fellow Best Picture nominees and talented directors like Jacques Audiard, Brady Corbet, Coralie Fargeat, and James Mangold, Baker stood out not just because of his distinctive filmmaking voice but also due to his passionate dedication to the craft. Anora, produced on a modest budget of around $6 million, follows the gripping narrative of Ani—a New York stripper who elopes with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, leading her down perilous paths.
This year, Anora secured six Oscar nominations, with Baker also acknowledged for Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing, as well as for producing the film alongside Alex Coco and Samantha Quan, who is also his wife. Earlier on the same evening, Baker claimed wins for both screenplay and editing, laying the groundwork for his eventual triumph at the Oscars.
Shortly after Baker's victory, Mikey Madison, the actress marked as pivotal to illustrating the heart of Anora, won the Oscar for Best Actress. Adding to the film's achievements, Anora itself netted the top honor of Best Picture, with Yura Borisov also receiving recognition through his nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Baker's adaptability across genres—from romantic comedies to crime thrillers—indicates his versatility as an indie filmmaker. With this recent success, he solidifies his status as one not afraid to tackle diverse themes and unexpected tonal shifts, as seen with his work on The Florida Project, which previously earned Willem Dafoe an Academy Award nomination.
Looking forward, Baker's wins serve as not just personal milestones but as impetus for the indie film community. It invites filmmakers to remain committed to the craft of cinema, necessitating audiences' support for theaters integral to the film experience. "Distributors, please focus first and foremost on the theatrical releases of your film. Neon did for me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart," he mentioned, calling on industry stakeholders to champion theatrical releases.
Lastly, Baker urged parents to instill the love for cinema within their children, asserting, "Parents, introduce your children to feature films in movie theaters...and let’s keep the great tradition of the movie-going experience alive and well." His impassioned plea encapsulates the greater narrative of the evening, merging personal victory with calls for collective action and commitment to the future of cinema.