Sean Baker thanked Quentin Tarantino because Tarantino cast Mikey Madison in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood—a performance that brought Madison to Baker’s attention before he cast her as the lead in Anora. “If you didn’t cast Mikey Madison, there would be no ‘Anora,’” Baker said in his Best Director acceptance speech, as reported by ABC News.
What Baker said to Tarantino
At the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, Tarantino presented Baker with the Best Director Oscar for Anora. Baker began his remarks by thanking him for casting Madison in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. The Associated Press also reported Baker’s point: without that casting, there would be no Anora.
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The remark recognized a link in the film’s casting history. Tarantino did not produce or directly make Anora; his decision to cast Madison in an earlier film helped Baker notice her. Madison won the Oscar for lead actress that same night.
How Madison went from Tarantino’s film to Anora
Baker’s interest began before he had written Anora. In an October 2024 interview with The Guardian, Baker said he remembered Madison from Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, then saw her in Scream. He approached her about starring in a new film that he had not yet written, and returned with a script about a year after their first meeting.
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Explaining why he wanted to work with her, Baker put it simply: “It comes down to that it factor,” he said. He described seeing someone and immediately wanting to see more of them, or feeling they deserved to be on the big screen.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The Oscar night behind the thank-you
Anora won five Oscars overall. Baker personally received four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing, according to the Associated Press. The AP reported the film was made on a $6 million budget.
After acknowledging the casting connection, Baker turned to a broader concern: the future of movie theaters. He called the theatergoing experience “under threat,” describing it as a communal experience that audiences do not get at home. “Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will,” he said, as reported by TheWrap. Baker also urged parents to introduce children to feature films in theaters and called on distributors to prioritize theatrical releases.
In the same speech, Baker estimated that nearly 1,000 U.S. screens had been lost during the pandemic, according to TheWrap. That figure was Baker’s estimate in his remarks, not an independently verified industry count.
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