Anora, the story of a New York sex worker who gets a chance at a new life when she marries a wealthy Russian client on a whim, won five Academy Awards, including the coveted best picture Oscar.
In addition to best picture, Sean Baker won for best director, original screenplay and editing to tie the record for most Oscars won by an individual in one year with Walt Disney, who won for four different films in 1954.
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The movie's 25-year-old star, Mikey Madison, was named best actress.
Anora was made for US$6 million (HK$46.8 million), a tiny sum by Hollywood standards. It emerged as the winner in an unpredictable Oscars race that included papal thriller Conclave, Jewish immigrant story The Brutalist and blockbuster musical Wicked.
"If you're trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more. This is proof," said Baker, known for making small films about porn stars, transgender prostitutes and other marginalized people.
Madison scored an upset over Demi Moore, who had been favored to win for her role in The Substance.
She said she wanted to "thank and honor the sex worker community" and that she "will continue to be an ally."
Anora, released by independent distributor Neon, has generated US$40 million at global box offices. Wicked, by comparison, has hauled in US$728 million.
Adrien Brody claimed his second best actor Oscar for his role as a Jewish immigrant and architect who chases the American dream in The Brutalist. The 51-year-old had previously won for The Pianist, when he became the youngest best actor winner at age 29.
"Acting is a very fragile profession," Brody said. "No matter where you are in your career, it can all go away. I think what makes this most special is the awareness of that."
Zoe Saldana was named best supporting actress for her role as the fixer for a Mexican drug lord in Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language musical released on Netflix. The movie, which also won best original song for El Mal, was a favorite for best picture earlier this year. Its chances dwindled when offensive social media posts surfaced from star Karla Sofia Gascon, the first openly transgender person nominated for an acting Oscar.
Kieran Culkin received the best supporting actor award for playing one of two cousins who travel to Poland to study their family's roots in A Real Pain.
Culkin thanked his wife and mother of his two children, Jazz Charton, and said he had recently told her he wanted a total of four kids. Culkin said she joked she would agree if he won an Oscar. "Let's get cracking on those kids!" Culkin said to his wife from the stage.
No Other Land, a film showing Palestinian West Bank resistance to Israeli soldiers tearing down their homes and evicting residents to create a military training ground, won the documentary feature film Oscar. The prize for best animated feature went to independent film Flow, the first movie from Latvia to win an Oscar. Brazilian movie I'm Still Here received the best international feature award.
Morgan Freeman, who starred with Gene Hackman in two movies, kicked off the in memoriam section with a somber note about the legendary actor who was found dead last week alongside his wife.
"Our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend," Freeman said. "I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone's work."
"Gene always said: 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,' " Freeman continued. "I think I speak for us all when I say, 'Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.' Rest in peace, my friend."REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
