Sean Baker took home multiple Academy Awards on Sunday for writing, editing, and directing *Anora*, a modern Cinderella story set in Brooklyn’s Russian emigre communities. The film, which premiered at Cannes, stars Mikey Madison as a young exotic dancer who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, earning her the Oscar for Best Actress. Yura Borisov’s portrayal of a henchman also earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Despite a tight budget and casting unknown actors, Baker stuck to his vision, with support from FilmNation and Neon, delivering a fresh and critical look at marginalized communities chasing the American dream.
