Russian Actor Fails to Secure a Historic Oscar Win
Russian actor Yura Borisov fell short of achieving a historic win at the 97th Academy Awards, where Kieran Culkin took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Yura Borisov left the 97th Academy Awards without an Oscar for his supporting role in "Anora," a film that went on to win Best Picture along with four other awards.
The 32-year-old Russian was the first performer born in Russia to be nominated in the best supporting actor category. He received acclaim for his portrayal of Igor, a complex and ruthless henchman in "Anora," a film that tackles class divides and power struggles. His “scene-stealing” performance marked him as a rising star in the industry.
However, the Oscar was awarded to Kieran Culkin for his work in "A Real Pain." Culkin's portrayal of Benji Kaplan—a sharp-witted yet troubled traveler in Poland seeking to reconnect with his Jewish heritage—garnered widespread recognition. His ability to blend humor with emotional depth made his performance a highlight of the film, contributing to his accolades at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Best Supporting Actor category included strong contenders like Edward Norton, Guy Pearce, and Jeremy Strong, making it one of the evening's most competitive races.
Born in December 1992 in Reutov, a suburb of Moscow, Borisov had no connections to the acting field before beginning his journey in a school theater group. At just 16, he gained admission to the esteemed Shchepkin Higher Theater School. He showed talent early on, winning the Golden Leaf Theater Award at 20, but spent several years in smaller roles before breaking through with "The Road to Berlin" in 2015.
Despite the disappointment, Borisov’s nomination adds to Russia’s significant presence at the Academy Awards, with over 160 nominations and 30 wins across various categories.
The Soviet Union’s first Oscar win came in 1943 when "Moscow Strikes Back" won Best Documentary Feature. In the Best International Feature Film category, four Russian films have received honors, among them "War and Peace," "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears," and "Burnt by the Sun." Celebrated filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov won Best Foreign Language Film for "Burnt by the Sun" and was previously nominated for "12."
"Anora" made its debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 to critical acclaim and was released by Neon in theaters in October. The film achieved box office success, grossing $41 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, becoming Sean Baker’s highest-grossing project to date.
The film received six nominations at the Oscars, winning accolades for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Baker, in addition to Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
“Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen,” Sean Baker declared during his acceptance speech for Best Directing at the ceremony.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
The 32-year-old Russian was the first performer born in Russia to be nominated in the best supporting actor category. He received acclaim for his portrayal of Igor, a complex and ruthless henchman in "Anora," a film that tackles class divides and power struggles. His “scene-stealing” performance marked him as a rising star in the industry.
However, the Oscar was awarded to Kieran Culkin for his work in "A Real Pain." Culkin's portrayal of Benji Kaplan—a sharp-witted yet troubled traveler in Poland seeking to reconnect with his Jewish heritage—garnered widespread recognition. His ability to blend humor with emotional depth made his performance a highlight of the film, contributing to his accolades at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Best Supporting Actor category included strong contenders like Edward Norton, Guy Pearce, and Jeremy Strong, making it one of the evening's most competitive races.
Born in December 1992 in Reutov, a suburb of Moscow, Borisov had no connections to the acting field before beginning his journey in a school theater group. At just 16, he gained admission to the esteemed Shchepkin Higher Theater School. He showed talent early on, winning the Golden Leaf Theater Award at 20, but spent several years in smaller roles before breaking through with "The Road to Berlin" in 2015.
Despite the disappointment, Borisov’s nomination adds to Russia’s significant presence at the Academy Awards, with over 160 nominations and 30 wins across various categories.
The Soviet Union’s first Oscar win came in 1943 when "Moscow Strikes Back" won Best Documentary Feature. In the Best International Feature Film category, four Russian films have received honors, among them "War and Peace," "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears," and "Burnt by the Sun." Celebrated filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov won Best Foreign Language Film for "Burnt by the Sun" and was previously nominated for "12."
"Anora" made its debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 to critical acclaim and was released by Neon in theaters in October. The film achieved box office success, grossing $41 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, becoming Sean Baker’s highest-grossing project to date.
The film received six nominations at the Oscars, winning accolades for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Baker, in addition to Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
“Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen,” Sean Baker declared during his acceptance speech for Best Directing at the ceremony.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
