‘Anora’ Takes Home Honors at Producers and Directors Guild Awards

Did the Oscar race just gain a clear front-runner?

Sean Baker’s Brooklyn-set comedy “Anora” garnered significant recognition by winning top accolades at both the Producers Guild Awards and the Directors Guild Awards held recently, solidifying its position as a frontrunner for the prestigious Academy Awards.

This year’s Hollywood award season has been notably unpredictable, with several films competing for the best picture designation. “Anora,” featuring Mikey Madison as an exotic dancer in Brooklyn who enters into a marriage with a Russian oligarch’s son, was previously seen as a contender after it clinched the esteemed Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

However, after a few films, including “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez,” gained prominence in discussions of the awards, “Anora” made a strong return over the weekend, also winning best picture at the Critics Choice Awards the preceding Friday.

Both guild events took place in Beverly Hills, California. Historically, the Producers Guild’s highest honor, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, has accurately predicted the Academy Award for best picture in 16 out of the last 21 years. Since the implementation of a preferential voting system in 2009 by both the guild and the Academy to determine winners from ten nominees, their outcomes have aligned except for three instances.

The Directors Guild Awards showcase similar trends; over the past 74 years, 66 out of 74 winning directors have subsequently won the Oscar. In this competitive landscape, Baker stands out as the frontrunner for best director, facing a lineup entirely made up of first-time nominees.

Additionally, the guild acknowledged RaMell Ross’s film “Nickel Boys” as the best first film. Ross’s work, which is also nominated for best picture at the Oscars, marks his debut in narrative filmmaking.

Voting for the Oscars kicks off Tuesday. Leading the nomination count is Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” which holds 13 nods. However, its prospects have dwindled amidst a series of controversies and negative responses.

Clarity also emerged in other Oscar categories over the weekend. During the Annie Awards, DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” swept nine awards, capturing best film, making it a strong contender for winning best animated feature at the Academy Awards slated for March 2.