Each year, the film industry gathers to honor outstanding achievements in cinema at the Academy Awards, more commonly known as the Oscars. Represented by the renowned gold statue, these awards are a recognition of excellence in the artistic and technical aspects of filmmaking. Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) vote to determine winners across various categories, including acting, cinematography, sound design, and more.
A Brief History
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, established in 1927 by Louis B. Mayer, originally aimed to manage labor disputes and the public image of the film industry. The Academy began with 36 members from five main groups: producers, actors, directors, writers, and technicians. The first Academy Awards ceremony took place in 1929, featuring 12 categories, including engineering effects and best actor.
Initially, award winners were announced before the ceremony, but in 1941, the now-famous sealed envelope system was introduced to maintain suspense. In 1948, a category for best foreign language film was introduced, known now as best international feature film. Over the years, categories such as best animated feature and best documentary feature have been added. In 2026, a new category for best casting will be introduced.
The Voting Process
While each Oscar category has specific eligibility criteria, all nominated films must have been released in the previous calendar year. In late December, AMPAS members receive lists of eligible films and performances. Members vote in their areas of expertise to select nominees.
Once nominees are chosen, final voting begins, allowing all AMPAS members to vote in every category. Most categories are determined by plurality, while the Best Picture award uses a ranked-choice system.
The Oscar Statuette
Standing at 13.5 inches and weighing 8.5 pounds is the gold-plated knight statuette, officially referred to as the Academy Award of Merit but better known as the Oscar. Although the origin of the name is unclear, the design has remained largely unchanged since 1929.
To date, more than 3,000 Oscars have been awarded. Walt Disney holds the record for the most individual Oscars, with 26 wins, while Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King each hold 11 Oscars, the highest for any film.
Results
The 97th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, was hosted by Conan O’Brien. The ceremony paid tribute to Los Angeles, which was recently devastated by wildfires, by featuring firefighters on stage and including a charity fundraiser for victims.
Leading the nominations with 13, Emilia Pérez concluded the evening with two awards. The ceremony saw Anora emerge as the night’s top winner, securing five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Sean Baker.
In the acting categories, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, while Mikey Madison took home Best Actress for her role in Anora. Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin won in the supporting categories for Emilia Pérez and A Real Pain, respectively.
The awards brought to light the contributions of independent filmmakers, with Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker urging young creators to pursue their passions in their acceptance speeches.
The 2025 Oscars were a memorable embrace of creativity and resilience, celebrating cinematic achievements, the community, and the art of storytelling in the face of difficulty.
