Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Anora

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739090464019Anora_Casino.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A scene from &#x27;Anora&#x27;. Handout photo "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from &#x27;Anora&#x27;. <em>Handout photo </em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- &quot;Anora&quot; was named the best film of the year by Hollywood&#x27;s directors and producers on Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.</p><p>The black comedy from director Sean Baker, about an erotic dancer&#x27;s whirlwind romance gone wrong, picked up the prestigious Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America top awards, just a day after capturing the foremost US critics&#x27; prize.</p><p>&quot;My imposter syndrome is skyrocketing right now!&quot; said Baker, a 53-year-old indie director, previously best known in arthouse circles for his empathetic portrayals of life in US subcultures, as he accepted his prize at a swanky Beverly Hills DGA gala.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/1/24/-anora-review-a-pretty-woman-scenario-gone-wrong-1333">&#x27;Anora&#x27; review: A &#x27;Pretty Woman&#x27; scenario gone wrong</a></div><p>Baker thanked his producers for being &quot;able to pull off a $6 million film, shot on film, in New York City in 2023 -- almost impossible.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Anora&quot; won the Cannes film festival top prize Palme d&#x27;Or back in May, yet had more recently lagged behind other films including &quot;Emilia Perez&quot; in terms of Oscar nominations.</p><p>Besides Saturday&#x27;s coup, &quot;Anora&quot; also won best picture at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday, propelling it as a renewed favorite for the Academy Awards -- which will take place on March 2.</p><p>Accepting his prize from Christoper Nolan, last year&#x27;s DGA winner, Baker joked that campaigning for Hollywood&#x27;s seemingly never-ending awards season had made him feel like he was &quot;actually doing work&quot; for &quot;the first time.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;ve been able to play -- and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, being able to do the thing I&#x27;ve wanted to do since I was five years old,&quot; said Baker.</p><p>He also thanked his mother for supporting his career -- but the director, whose films mainly center around sex work and pornography, admitted he was glad she had not seen his latest, somewhat graphic project.</p><p>Nineteen of the past 21 DGA winners have gone on to also win the Oscar for best director that same year, including the last two winners -- &quot;Oppenheimer&quot; and &quot;Everything Everywhere All At Once.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/2/8/demi-moore-wins-at-critics-choice-with-disgraced-rival-gascon-absent-1345">READ: Demi Moore wins at Critics Choice with disgraced rival Gascon absent</a></div><p>The DGA prize for best movie from a first-time filmmaker went to another Oscar best picture nominee, &quot;Nickel Boys,&quot; from RaMell Ross.</p><p>Ross, whose film about abuses at a 1960s Florida reform school for juvenile boys -- shot as if from the eyes of its characters -- said it was too &quot;rare&quot; to see the Black gaze represented in Hollywood cinema.</p><p>Meanwhile across town in Los Angeles Saturday, &quot;Anora&quot; also won the PGA top prize.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>"Anora" was named the best film of the year by Hollywood's directors and producers on Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.</p>

"Anora" was named the best film of the year by Hollywood's directors and producers on Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.

'Anora' wins top Hollywood producer and director prizes

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Movies & Series

'Anora' wins top Hollywood producer and director prizes

Agence France-Presse,

Andrew Marszal

Published February 09, 2025 04:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Anora

Cannes film festival

Producers Guild of America

Directors Guild of America

Sean Baker

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.