The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards occurred on Friday night, where several highly anticipated films competed for the top accolades. The prestigious Best Picture award was claimed by Sean Baker’s unexpected indie hit, which boasts a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Baker’s film overshadowed big contenders such as “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Nickel Boys,” and “The Substance” to win the Best Picture title.
The winning film, a comedy-drama, explores the relationship between Anora, a sex worker played by Mikey Madison, and Vanya, the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. In his acceptance speech, Sean Baker said, “Our win was so unexpected. We made this little film on a $6 million budget, which is considered a micro-budget these days. We shot on film in New York City. And all of this was possible because of my incredible cast and crew, who put their all into it. We aimed to keep independent films on the big screen, and we are grateful to everyone who watched it in theaters.”
Indie Film’s unexpected triumph
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2024, where it won the prestigious Palme d’Or. Following its theatrical release by Neon, it grossed over $35 million. Despite being nominated for seven awards, including Best Director for Baker and Best Actress for Madison, the film secured only the Best Picture award for the night.
During the film’s theatrical run last year, Mikey Madison shared insights into her role and the filming process. She revealed, “All the locations are real, and many of our cast were first-time actors with real-life experiences similar to our characters.” Madison noted that a substantial portion of the film was improvised and added that she was proud to bring authenticity to her role. “It’s moments like those that make me proud, sharing my vision and preparing comprehensively, with Sean being so open to it.”
The film is available for purchase or rental on all digital streaming platforms.
