At the 2025 Academy Awards, the film "Anora," shot in southern Brooklyn, received five Oscars, including Best Picture. The film tells the story of Ani, a young sex worker from Brighton Beach, who falls for the son of a Russian oligarch. Director Sean Baker and the cast, including Best Leading Actress winner Mikey Madison, praised Brooklyn's influence on the film. With a budget of just $6 million, the cast immersed themselves in the local culture while filming, emphasizing the community's importance to the narrative.
In her winning speech, an awestruck Madison gave Brooklyn a shout-out. "Thank you, Brighton Beach, for lending us your beautiful backdrop and incredible community," she said.
Producer Alex Coco said during his speech that the film was made on a relatively small budget. "We made this movie for $6 million, shooting on location in New York City with about 40 crew members," he said.
Baker and his friend and 'Anora' actor Karren Karagulia - who moved to Brighton Beach from Armenia in 1990 - had been thinking about making a movie set in the Eastern European enclave for years.
Madison and the entire 'Anora' cast reportedly moved to Brighton Beach for the entirety of filming, and Madison has talked in interviews about perfecting the character's accent and halting Russian language skills.
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