The 95th Academy Awards took place on the evening of Mar. 12, 2023, marking an important year in cinematic history. A year important for the academy, the actors, the film studios and production behind the scenes.

This year marks the first year since 1935 when all nominees for Best Actor are first-time nominees. The Academy not only honored returning members for their renowned careers, but also gave credit to new faces. The winner was Brenden Fraser for his performance in “The Whale.”

“Gentlemen, you laid your whale-sized hearts bare so that we could see into your souls like no one else could do and it is my honor to be named alongside you in this category,” Fraser said, thanking production in his speech.

“The Whale” was produced by A24, the same studio that produced “Everywhere Everything All At Once,” which has become one of the most awarded films of all time. At the Academy Awards it received eleven nominations, the most out of any film, and won seven of the categories

One of those categories was best actress, which Michelle Yeoh won after years in the industry. This also marks the first Asian woman to be awarded best actress.

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,” Yeoh said.

Considering the timeline of the film industry, A24 is a relatively new competitor, founded in 2012. It’s become 2023’s most nominated studio thanks to “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Whale,” “Aftersun,” “Causeway,” “Close” and “Marcel the Shell with Shoes on.”

While it’s certain what the showstopper was this year, it takes a village to make just one of the many films nominated. It takes everyone from the directors to the writing room to the special effects to the costumes.

Ruth Carter made history as the first black woman to win two Oscars. In 2018, she won the category of best costume design for “Black Panther,” and in 2023, the same category for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Her acceptance speech included a mention of the late Chadwick Boseman, a topic many cast members have touched on.

“This past week, [my mom] Mabel Carter became an ancestor. This film prepared me for this moment. Chadwick, please take care of Mom,” Carter said.

The Academy Awards are highly esteemed and a cultural touchstone; they create a full night dedicated to celebrating cinema and the people who make it.