LOS ANGELES — The 97th Academy Awards concluded Sunday with Anora capturing five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker) and Best Actress (Mikey Madison), in a star-studded ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Adrien Brody won his second Best Actor award, for The Brutalist, while Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) took home Oscars for supporting roles.

Morgan Freeman paid tribute to Gene Hackman, who was found dead last week along with his wife and dog in their New Mexico home. And Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Queen Latifah honored Quincy Jones, who died in November.

Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the show with a powerful medley of songs: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Wizard of Oz), "Home" (The Wiz) and their film's "Defying Gravity."

The show recognized firefighters who battled the deadly Los Angeles wildfires that led to the nominations being postponed twice in January.

After the ceremony concluded, the stars headed out to let loose at fabulous bashes. The official afterparty was the Governors Ball, where guests were served Oscars-inspired treats from a menu created by chef Wolfgang Puck.

Anora took home the biggest honor of the night, the Oscar for Best Picture. The film won five out of the six categories it earned nominations for. Director Sean Baker and the film's cast, including Best Actress winner Mikey Madison and producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan, took the stage to accept the award.

"To all of the dreamers and young filmmakers out there, tell the stories you want to tell. Tell the stories that move you. I promise you, you will never regret it," said Quan.

Added Baker, "I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film. This film was made on the blood, sweat and tears of incredible indie artists."

Mikey Madison accepted the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Anora, using her speech to express gratitude to the sex worker community that inspired her role.

"I will continue to support and be an ally," she said in her speech. "All of the incredible people, the women that I've had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this incredible — of this entire, incredible experience."

Madison went on to thank the "beautiful and breathtaking work" of her fellow nominees.

"I'm honored to be recognized alongside all of you," she said. "This is a dream come true. I'm probably going to wake up tomorrow."

When Sean Baker took the stage to accept the Academy Award for Best Director, he took the opportunity to passionately encourage people to continue going to movie theaters.

"Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater. Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience," Baker said. "In a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever. It's a communal experience you simply don't get at home. Right now, the theater-going experience is under threat. Movie theaters, especially independently owned theaters, are struggling. It's up to us to support them."

Baker added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1,000 movie theaters in the United States went out of business.

"If we don't reverse this trend, we will be losing a vital part of our culture."

Baker concluded his speech with what he called his "battle cry."

"Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will," he said. "Distributors, please focus first on the theatrical releases of your films. Parents, introduce your children to feature films in movie theaters, and you'll be molding the next generation of movie lovers and filmmakers. And for all of us, when we can, please watch movies."

Adrien Brody won his second Best Actor Oscar tonight for his role in The Brutalist. He plays a Holocaust survivor and Hungarian architect who emigrates to the United States.

"Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous, and in certain moments it is," he said in his acceptance speech. "But the one thing that I've gained having the privilege to come back here is to have some perspective. And no matter where you are in your career, no matter what you've accomplished, it can all go away."

Brody thanked his mom and dad, as well as his partner, Georgina Chapman, and her children.

"Popsy's comin' home a winner!" he said.

He also said he wanted to represent the "lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of antisemitism and racism and otherism."

"I pray for a healthier and happier and a more inclusive world, and I believe if the past can teach us anything, it's a reminder to not let hate go unchecked," he said. "Let's rebuild together."

Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey took the stage to honor the legendary Quincy Jones, reflecting on his groundbreaking career and enduring legacy.

Goldberg highlighted Jones’s historic achievements, noting that he was the first Black composer nominated for Best Original Song for “The Eyes of Love” from the 1967 film Banning.

"When we're talking about Black excellence, we're talking about Quincy," Goldberg said.

Winfrey, who worked with Jones on The Color Purple, praised his impact.

"Quincy was love, lived out loud in human form," she said. "He poured that love into others and into his work."

The tribute continued with Queen Latifah taking the stage for an energetic performance of “Ease on Down the Road” from The Wiz, a film that earned Jones an Oscar nomination in 1978.

Walter Salles, director of I'm Still Here, accepted the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. He took the stage to thank Eunice Paiva, who the film is based on, as well as the actresses who brought her to life on screen.

"This goes to a woman who, after a loss suffered during an authoritarian regime, decided not to bend and to resist. This prize goes to her. Her name is Eunice Paiva. And it goes to the two extraordinary women who gave life to her, Fernanda Torres and Fernanda Montenegro," the Brazilian director said.

Salles added of winning the award, "It's an extraordinary feat. Thank you so much."

There was applause for Conan’s Trump-Putin dig about Anora winning awards and someone “finally standing up to a powerful Russian.”

So that’s what O’Brien meant when he said he would treat politics “with humor.”

Morgan Freeman took the stage to honor Gene Hackman, who died days before the Oscars.

"This week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman," Freeman said as he took the stage. They worked together on two films — 1992's Unforgiven and 2000's Under Suspicion.

"Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'" Freeman continued. "So I think I speak for us all when I say: Gene, you'll be remembered for that and for so much more."

Los Angeles firefighters took center stage at the Oscars to a standing ovation, before the host, Conan O'Brien, handed them the mic to try their hand at comedy.

"There are some jokes even I’m not brave enough to tell," O’Brien said while setting up the joke. He then directed the firefighters to read jokes off the teleprompter, adding, "Everyone in this audience has to laugh — these are heroes!"

Los Angeles Fire Captain Erik Scott kicked things off: "Our hearts go out to all of those who lost their homes — and I’m talking about the producers of Joker 2."

Los Angeles Fire Department pilot Jonith Johnson Jr. followed with a jab at the star of A Complete Unknown: "To play Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet learned how to sing. In fact, his singing was so good, he almost lost the part."

Pasadena Fire Department Captain Jodi Slicker wrapped up the routine with a playful dig at the host himself: "It's great to be back with Conan. Usually, when he calls, he’s stuck in a tree."

Filmmakers Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor accepted the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film for No Other Land. Made by both Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, the film explores the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter is that she would not have to live the same life I am living now, always fearing violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements," Adra said. "No Other Land reflects the harsh realities that we have been enduring for decades and still persist, as we call on the world to take serious action to stop the injustice and stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people."

Abraham continued, "We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger. We see each other. ... There is a different path. A political solution without ethnic supremacy with national rights for both of our people."

Abraham also spoke of foreign policy in the United States.

"The foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path," he said. "And why? Can't you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel's people are truly free and safe? There is another way. It's not too late for life, for the living." — Agencies