“Anora,” a black comedy directed by Sean Baker, has been named the best film of the year by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA) at their respective awards ceremonies on Saturday.
The film, which centers around an erotic dancer’s turbulent romance, has now solidified its status as a frontrunner for the upcoming Oscars.
Baker, a 53-year-old independent filmmaker known for his empathetic depictions of US subcultures, expressed disbelief as he accepted his award at a glamorous DGA event in Beverly Hills. “My imposter syndrome is skyrocketing right now!” he said.
He also praised his producers for successfully completing a $6 million film shot in New York City in 2023, a feat he called “almost impossible.”
“Anora” took home the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and was recently awarded Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards. Despite this, the film had faced stiff competition in the Oscar race, particularly from contenders like Emilia Perez.
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Baker accepted his DGA award from Christopher Nolan, last year’s winner, and joked that the intense campaigning for Hollywood’s awards season had made him feel like he was “actually doing work” for the first time.
Reflecting on his career, Baker called himself “the luckiest guy in the world” for being able to pursue his passion since childhood. He also thanked his mother for her unwavering support, though he admitted he was grateful she had not yet seen his latest, more graphic film.
Historically, 19 of the past 21 DGA winners have gone on to win the Oscar for Best Director, with recent winners including Oppenheimer and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
In other DGA honors, RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys won Best Movie from a First-Time Filmmaker. Ross, whose film highlights abuses at a 1960s Florida reform school, remarked on the rarity of seeing the “Black gaze” represented in Hollywood cinema.
Meanwhile, “Anora” also took home the top prize at the PGA ceremony, further boosting its momentum heading into the Oscars.
