With two of the three Welsh nominees winning prizes, Welsh creatives had a big influence on the 2025 Oscars. Lol Crawley, the cinematographer for The Brutalist, who was born and raised in Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, was one of the winners. In his sincere victory speech, Crawley thanked "all my friends back in Wales" for his profound appreciation. He expressed his pride and longing for his own country in an interview with BBC Breakfast at the Vanity Fair afterparty, saying, "It doesn't seem that long since I was there, to be honest, and I have a huge affection for that country."
Crawley also emphasized the significance of Brady Corbet's post-war epic, which won Oscars for Adrien Brody's best performance and best original music. He pointed out that The Brutalist broke free from the usual limitations of movie duration and format, and that the picture has generated new conversations about the limits of cinema.
Rhys Salcombe, a special effects artist from Aberystwyth, is another Welsh success story. He helped Dune: Part Two win the best visual effects award. With a cast that included Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh, the Denis Villeneuve-directed movie also won for outstanding sound. The film's technical mastery was indisputable, despite the fact that many reviewers and fans believed Villeneuve should have been nominated for director.
Trevor Matthews, one of the four producers of The Brutalist, was the third Welshman in attendance at the Dolby Theatre. Despite his expectations, Anora won the coveted best picture Oscar, and Sean Baker's film took home five prizes, dominating the evening. Baker further highlighted the variety of greatness displayed at the ceremony by setting a record with victories for best director, best original screenplay, best film editing, and best picture.
The evening honored foreign talent in addition to Welsh accomplishments. For his work on a movie that also recognized British talent, English writer Peter Straughan won the best adapted screenplay award. He gave appreciation to his cast, crew, and production firms and even dedicated his victory to his daughter, Connie.
The documentary No Other Land, which was based on the West Bank, won the Oscar for best documentary feature, and Walter Selles' I'm Still Here won best international feature picture. Mikey Madison, star of Anora, won best actress in the acting categories. Kieran Culkin won best supporting actor for A Real Pain, Adrien Brody won best actor for The Brutalist, and Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Academy Award for best supporting actress for Emilia Pérez.
A spectacular evening for Wales and its creative community, Welsh artists not only displayed artistic brilliance but also brought attention to the international scope of the film industry.