Sean Baker clinches Best Director Oscar

In a fierce showdown between indie auteurs, Sean Baker, director of “Anora”, triumphed over Brady Corbet, the filmmaker behind “The Brutalist”, to seize the Academy Award for Best Director.

Baker secured the Oscar for his zany yet heartfelt film, which follows the unexpected journey of a Brooklyn sex worker who finds herself entangled in the world of wealth and power after marrying the son of a Russian oligarch.

“If Quentin hadn’t cast Mikey in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, ‘Anora’ wouldn’t exist,” Baker declared in his acceptance speech, acknowledging the crucial break that helped shape his film’s journey.

His speech became a heartfelt ode to the magic of watching movies in a theatre—what audiences in the UK would call the cinema.

He reflected on the devastating loss of nearly 1,000 movie screens across the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the challenges facing the industry.

Framing his message as a rallying call, Baker urged distributors to prioritise theatrical releases, emphasising the importance of the big-screen experience in an era dominated by streaming.

“Let’s preserve the rich tradition of movie-going and keep it thriving,” he concluded.

Known for his unflinching portrayals of life on society’s fringes, the New Jersey-born filmmaker has long been a critical favourite. However, despite widespread acclaim, he had never before received an Oscar nomination—let alone a win—for directing. That all changed tonight with his landmark victory.

Adding to his accolades, “Anora” previously took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year, making Baker the first American director to secure the prestigious honour since 2011.