Director Sean Baker receives the Theatrical Motion Pictures award for Anora at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards, held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Sean Baker’s film Anora has surged ahead in the Oscar race after winning big at both the Producers Guild Awards (PGA) and the Directors Guild Awards (DGA) over the weekend. The Brooklyn-set comedy, which follows an exotic dancer’s whirlwind marriage to a Russian oligarch’s son, has now solidified its place as a frontrunner for Best Picture.
Hollywood’s award season has been unusually unpredictable, with multiple films vying for the top spot. Anora initially appeared to be a strong contender after winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. However, as other films, including Golden Globe winners The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, gained traction, the race became more open. This weekend’s major wins, combined with Anora’s victory at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday, have put it firmly back in the lead.
Both the PGA and DGA awards are considered key indicators of Oscar success. The PGA’s top honour, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, has aligned with the Academy’s Best Picture winner in 16 of the last 21 years. Similarly, the DGA’s Best Director winner has gone on to win the Oscar in 66 of the past 74 years. These statistics strongly favour Baker, who is competing against a field of first-time Oscar nominees.
Director Sean Baker receives the Theatrical Motion Pictures award for Anora at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards, held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
In other notable wins, the DGA named RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys as Best First Film. The movie, which is also up for Best Picture at the Oscars, marks Ross’s transition into narrative filmmaking.
Meanwhile, the Best Animated Feature category also saw a major shake-up. DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot dominated the Annie Awards, securing nine wins, including Best Film. This victory positions it as the favourite to take home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature on March 2.
Oscar voting kicks off Tuesday, with Emilia Pérez leading the nominations at 13. However, the Netflix-backed musical drama has faced multiple controversies, casting doubt on its chances. With Anora gaining momentum at just the right time, it may now be the film to beat at this year’s Academy Awards.
