There were some memorable acceptance speeches at this year’s Oscars.
The night really belonged to Sean Baker’s Anora, which earned five awards in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.
I have been rooting for Anora ever since I saw its world premiere at the Cannes Film Fest last May!
My Oscar Book:
The show was longer—3 hours and 36 minutes–but far better than last year’s.
Deadline rounded the speeches up, ranked by total number of views on YouTube so far.
1. Kieran Culkin (Best Supporting Actor)
Kieran Culkin was one of the earliest winners of the night, taking home his first Oscar ever. The actor earned the statue for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy-drama “A Real Pain,” in which Kieran starred as Benji Kaplan.
During his speech, Culkin surprised his wife by recalling a previous conversation they had, in which she promised him to have a fourth child together if he won the Oscar.
You can watch the moment above.
2. Adrien Brody (Best Actor)–Longest Speech (6 Minutes)
Adrien Brody won one of the final awards of the night, winning the Oscar for Best Actor, thanks to his performance in “The Brutalist.” The trophy marked his second win on his second nomination, breaking a record.
During his acceptance speech, Brody refused to let the orchestra play him off, speaking for almost six minutes in total, ending with a call for a more “inclusive world.”
3. Mikey Madison (Best Actress) (One of Youngest Winners)
Mikey Madison took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for Anora. During her speech, she made a point to highlight sex workers, thanking them for their insights and help in making the film.
“I want to again recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally,” she said. “The women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community have been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”
You can watch Madison’s speech above.
4. Zoe Saldaña (Best Supporting Actress)
Zoe Saldaña was also a first-time Oscar winner on Sunday, taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Emilia Pérez.” The actress was in tears through her speech, thanking her family and dedicating the award to her grandmother, noting that she’s the first American of Dominican heritage to win an Oscar.
“The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish, my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted,” she said.
Watch the moment above.
5. Anora (Best Picture)
It really was a shining night for “Anora,” as the film also took home Best Picture. In their acceptance speech, the filmmakers thanked their cast and crew, as well as applauding the Academy for recognizing an indie film with the top prize of the night.
“To all of the dreamers and the young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell,” producer Samantha Quan said. “Tell the stories that move you. I promise you, you will never regret it.”
Watch the moment above.
6. Sean Baker (Best Director)
Sean Baker tied a record set by Walt Disney with his 4 Oscar wins for Anora on Sunday.
In his speech for the Best Director win, he pleaded with audiences and filmmakers to make sure movie theaters don’t go under.
“It’s a communal experience you simply don’t get at home. And right now, the theater-going experience is under threat,” Baker said. “Movie theaters, especially independently-owned theaters, are struggling, and it’s up to us to support them. During the pandemic, we lost nearly 1,000 screens in the US. And we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture.”
“This is my battle cry, filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will.”
