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Erotic dancer comedy-drama Anora wins Palme d’Or at Cannes

  • The film, directed by Sean Baker, stars Mikey Madison as a dancer who strikes gold with a wealthy client, only to face the wrath of his Russian oligarch parents
  • The festival also saw a trans woman winning best actress for the first time, as Karla Sofia Gascon shared the award with co-stars Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez

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Sean Baker poses with the Palme d’Or for Anora after the closing and awards ceremony of the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Anora, a raw, highly explicit and often hilarious story about a New York erotic dancer, was crowned with the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.

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It confirmed its director Sean Baker as one of the leading voices of American indie cinema, and promises to make a star of 25-year-old Mikey Madison.

She plays the lead role as a dancer who strikes gold with a wealthy client, only to face the wrath of his Russian oligarch parents.

As head of the jury, Barbie director Greta Gerwig praised Anora as an “incredible, human and humane film that captured our hearts”.

Anora cast members (from left) Mark Eydelshteyn, Mikey Madison and Yuriy Borisov pose during a photocall at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Anora cast members (from left) Mark Eydelshteyn, Mikey Madison and Yuriy Borisov pose during a photocall at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Baker dedicated the film to all sex workers.

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