Sean Baker wins ‘Anora’

Sean Baker won Academy Awards on Sunday night for writing, editing and directing his film Anora, a Cinderella story set in Brooklyn’s Russian emigre communities of Brighton Beach and Coney Island.

An “indie film lifer” is how Sean Baker referred to himself after winning the best director prize at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in February.

When Anora premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, it won the prestigious Palme d’Or, and critical recognition for its actors. The film stars Mikey Madison as a young Russian American exotic dancer who impulsively marries the reckless son of a Russian oligarch. For her performance, Madison won the Oscar Sunday night for best actress.

Baker also cast Russian actor Yura Borisov as a tenderhearted henchman. His performance earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor in a supporting role.

He said when he showed his cast list to potential funders, “they were like, Oh my God, Sean, can you please try? … This is a business still, and can you please provide some recognizable names that will help us out here? It’ll help the sales.”

Baker said he stuck to his guns and was lucky enough to have FilmNation and distributor Neon back him up.