' ANORA ' NABS PRIZES : FILM HONOURS

ANORA was named the best film of the year by Hollywood's directors and producers last Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.

The black comedy from director Sean Baker, about an erotic dancer's whirlwind romance gone wrong, picked up the prestigious Director Guild of America and Producers Guild of America top awards, just a day after capturing the foremost US critics' prize.

'' My imposter syndrome is skyrocketing right now!'' said Baker, a 53-year-old indie director, previously best known in arthouse circles for his empathetic portrayals of life in US subcultures, as he accepted his prize at swanky Beverly Hills DGA gala.

Baker thanked his producers for being ''able to pull off a $ 6 million film, shot on film, in New York City in 2023 - almost impossible.''

Anora won the Cannes film festival top prize Palme d'Or back in May, yet had more recently lagged behind other films including Emilia Perez in terms of Oscar nominations.

Besides Saturday's coup, Anora also won best picture at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday, propelling it as a renewed favorite for the Academy Awards - which will take place on March 2.

Accepting his prize from Christopher Nolan, last year's DGA winner, Baker joked that campaigning for Hollywood's seemingly never-ending awards season had made him feel like he was '' actually doing work'' for '' the first time.''

'' I've been able to play - and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, being able to do things I've wanted to do since I was five years old,'' said Baker.

He also thanked his mother for supporting to his career - but the director, whose films mainly centre around sex work and pornography, admitted he was glad she had not seen his latest, some-what graphic project.

The World Students Society thanks AFP.