Anora gains momentum ahead of Oscars with big wins at Producers and Directors Guild Awards

The 2025 Oscar race has been a rollercoaster ride with no clear frontrunner, until now. Sean Baker’s Brooklyn comedy, Anora, has emerged as a strong contender after sweeping top honours at both the Producers Guild Awards and the Directors Guild Awards on Saturday night. This string of wins has catapulted Anora to the status of Oscar favourite, solidifying its position as a legitimate best-picture contender.

Anora, which stars Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, initially made waves when it won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. However, the race for best picture has been fiercely competitive, with films like The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez taking turns in the spotlight. But Anora’s recent victories at the guild ceremonies, as well as its best picture win at the Critics Choice Awards, have firmly placed it at the forefront of the Oscar conversation.

Both the Producers Guild Awards and the Directors Guild Awards have a track record of predicting the Oscar winners. The Darryl F. Zanuck Award, the PGA’s top prize, has matched the Oscar winner for best picture in the majority of the past 21 years. Similarly, the DGA has a strong correlation with the Oscars, with 66 out of 74 winners going on to triumph at the Academy Awards. This bodes well for Sean Baker, who is now the favourite for best director in a field entirely composed of first-time nominees.

Oscar voting is set to begin soon, with Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez leading the pack with 13 nominations. However, the Netflix film has faced backlash and controversy, which may have impacted its chances. Meanwhile, at the Annie Awards, DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot cleaned up with nine awards, making it the heavy favourite to win best animated film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

With the Oscars just around the corner, all eyes are on Anora as it continues to gain momentum in the awards race. Will Sean Baker’s Brooklyn comedy be able to maintain its frontrunner status and take home the coveted best picture award? Only time will tell as Hollywood’s award season heads towards its thrilling conclusion.