Avery Kelley 
Oscar Sunday 2025 was one for the books! Cinema’s biggest night, hosted at the
Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, CA, was filled with some of Hollywood’s greatest talent. The evening was groundbreaking, entertaining, and an all-around night to remember.
Several historic wins were awarded during Sunday’s show. Costume Designer Paul Tazewell was awarded Best Costume Design for his breathtaking work on the film Wicked. This win marks him as the first Black man ever to be awarded for costume design at the Oscars. Although this was his first win, the decorated designer is not new to the Academy world, having previous nominations for his work on West Side Story and Academy recognitions for designing costumes on Broadway for shows such as In The Heights and The Color Purple.
One of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses, Zoe Saldana, also received her first Oscar this year, being awarded Best Supporting Actress for her role in Netflix’s Emilia Pérez. Although known for her diverse roles and for serving as the highest-grossing actress of all time, this was her first-ever Oscar nomination. This win cemented her as the only American of Dominican origin to ever win an Oscar. Throughout her speech, she shares…”My grandmother came to this country in 1961…I am the proud child of immigrant parents, with dreams, dignity, and hardworking hands, and I am the first American of Dominican Origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I won’t be the last.”
It would not be the Oscars without a variety of performances. This year’s show was opened by Wicked’s very own Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who defied gravity with their outstanding Wicked medley. Outside of performing songs from the 2024 rendition of the film such as “Defying Gravity,” they paid tribute to other pioneering songs from the Wizard of Oz universe, such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” *(The Wizard of Oz, 1939) and “Home” (The Wiz, 1978). Alongside this astonishing musical opening, artists Lisa, Doja Cat, and RAYE received their moment as well. The three singers paid homage to the songs of the James Bond franchise, through their renditions of “Live and Let Die” (Wings), “Diamonds Are Forever” (Shirley Bassey), and “Skyfall” (Adele). The musical tribute and dance performance left the crowd in the theater and the crowd at home speechless. To conclude, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Queen Latifah also honored producer and composer Quincy Jones, who passed in November.
And of course, what would Oscar Sunday be without a film that takes it all home? The 2024 Indie Film Anora dominated the Academy stage, receiving FIVE awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Screenplay (Sean Baker), and Best Film Editing (Sean Baker). This historic sweep tied Anora’s director, writer, producer, and editor Sean Baker with Walt Disney for the record of most Academy Awards ever won by a single person in one night.
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By Avery Kelley
Instagram: @askaveryk / Twitter: @averykels
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