By Soumya Ranjan The 2025 Oscar winners have demonstrated that independent films are now champions rather than merely competitors. With “Anora” and “The Brutalist” taking home eight awards apiece, this year’s ceremony cemented the Academy’s move away from spectacle and toward daring narrative and creative risk-taking.
Sean Baker’s speech at the 97th Oscars wasn’t just an acceptance—it was a statement. As he took the stage to claim the Best Picture award for ‘Anora,’ he championed the rise of indie films, a message that felt perfectly timed on a night when indie cinema reigned supreme. Films with low budgets not only won, but also dominated, leaving behind big-budget studio productions. ‘Anora,’ ‘The Brutalist,’ ‘A Real Pain,’ ‘The Substance,’ ‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘Flow,’ and ‘Conclave’ all took home major awards, while only ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Wicked’ managed to rescue Hollywood’s blockbuster pride. The night was all about independent films, with “The Brutalist” and “Anora” winning eight awards each. This was a turning point in Oscar history.
The turning point
The rise of indie films at the Oscars can be traced back to 2017, when ‘Moonlight’ shocked the world by trouncing ‘La La Land’ for Best Picture. It was more than just Warren Beatty making a mistake; it also marked a turning point in the Academy’s voting trends, favoring powerful socially conscious independent films over big-budget studio productions. This shift gained even more momentum in 2020 when ‘Parasite,’ distributed by Neon, made history as the first non-English-language film to win the Best Film award. Its victory sent a clear message—powerful storytelling could transcend language barriers and challenge Hollywood’s biggest studios. From there, the floodgates opened. ‘Nomadland,’ ‘CODA,’ and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ solidified the indie wave and became a movement, proving that big-budget films weren’t just losing ground—they had every reason to be afraid.
Bold and radical storytelling
The Academy’s growing acceptance of socially relevant storytelling is the most significant factor that has altered the Oscars landscape. Films like ‘Anora,’ ‘The Brutalist,’ and ‘The Substance’ tackled themes of immigration, social acceptance, and aspiration—resonating deeply with both audiences and voters. Their previous strong performances at major film festivals like Venice, Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and Busan—film festivals that have always promoted bold, thought-provoking cinema—amplify their success at the Oscars. On the other hand, big-budget studio production chose box office returns over artistic freedom, resulting in a slew of sequels and franchise films and avoiding risks. The only exceptions came when master filmmakers like Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve were at the helm, proving that in today’s industry, creativity, not just commercial appeal, is the key to Oscar glory.
The contribution of streaming platforms
Streaming platforms have played a significant role in the rise of indie films, giving them both visibility and financial backing. ‘Emilia Pérez’ had the support of Netflix, while ‘The Substance’ was championed by Mubi, proving that digital platforms are now key players in shaping award contenders. Beyond streaming, production houses like Neon and A24 have become synonymous with high-quality indie cinema, ensuring these films reach the audiences they were made for. Neon has built its reputation on Oscar-worthy films like ‘Parasite,’ ‘I, Tonya,’ ‘Triangle of Sadness,’ and ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig,’ while A24 has backed gems like ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ ‘Lady Bird,’ and ‘Moonlight.’ These companies have evolved into powerhouses, making indie films more mainstream than ever, no longer limited to niche audiences but accessible to viewers worldwide.
No risk, no gain
A significant shift in the definition of cinematic excellence can be seen in the Oscars duel between independent films and productions with substantial budgets. While Hollywood blockbusters continue to rule the box office, independent films have firmly established themselves at the Academy Awards, proving that compelling storytelling and artistic vision have the potential to outweigh spectacle. This trend only suggests that the Oscars will remain a platform for bold, unconventional narratives, with only the most creatively ambitious big-budget films breaking through. As the industry evolves, the tug-of-war between artistic risk-taking and commercial filmmaking will persist, but for now, indie cinema stands firmly in the spotlight.