This recognition represents a shift in the Academy Awards, which has honored a production of just six million dollars made by a filmmaker who had not previously received significant attention from Hollywood.
In 2017, Baker released The Florida Project, considered a masterpiece, but only received one Oscar nomination, in the category of best supporting actor for Willem Dafoe.
The success of Anora at the Academy Awards is a statement by Hollywood, which seems to vindicate independent cinema and move away from the dominance of streaming platforms, especially Netflix. Additionally, the film's recognition underscores the importance of the cinema experience and marks a change in the representation of sexuality in film, after years of caution in response to criticism of sexism in the industry.
With this decision, the Academy of Hollywood demonstrates its intention to reaffirm the value of traditional cinema and to open new paths for innovative stories outside of major studios and digital platforms.