Sean Baker has won best director at the Oscars for “Anora,” the story of a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch

Anora,” a strip-club Cinderalla story without the fairy tale ending, was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Baker’s gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywood’s top prize.

Anora” was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Baker’s gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywood’s top prize.

"Anora," Sean Baker’s edgy comedy about an exotic dancer in Brooklyn, emerged as the big winner at the 97th Academy Awards with five Oscars, including best picture, best director for Baker and best actress for Mikey Madison.

Baker’s four Oscars for “Anora” are validation of his sensitive portrayals of people on the margins who always seem to come up short.

Baker conceived of the film as being rooted in a home invasion scene. Madison gets her screams in — and some punches — when Garnik and Igor come calling. The goal is to round up Ani and Vanya so they can get the marriage annulled, but Vanya legs it out the front door, leaving his new bride to deal with the fallout.

With wins for best picture, directing, writing and editing on 'Anora,' Baker has set a new bar for Oscars success.

New Jersey indie film auteur Sean Baker is now an Oscar-winning director. Baker has centered most of his films around sex workers. The movies have been well received, but none have reached the heights of “Anora,

Sean Baker, the director of “Anora,” has been named Best Director at the 2025 Oscars. Years before his big night, Baker made an appearance on WESH 2 News! Sign up for our Newsletters In 2017, Baker stopped by to discuss the film,