By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES, March 2 (Reuters) - The 97th Academy Awards marked a celebration of independent film, with bright open neon sign signretro open neon sign neon bar neon sign love neon sign bespoke name sign greeting neon light espresso neon sign player zone neon chill zone neon light music note neon happy hour sign positive neon light on air neon sign baby room neon sign neon open sign neon bar sign neon love sign bespoke name sign hello neon sign coffee bar neon arcade neon sign men’s room neon music note neon cocktail hour neon vibes only neon broadcast light sign soft pastel neon sign vintage open light neon bar sign love neon sign custom name neon sign neon hello sign coffee neon sign game room neon sign garage neon sign DJ booth light happy hour sign positive neon light recording studio neon nursery neon light bright open sign drinks neon light romantic neon light custom name neon sign neon hello sign café neon light gamer neon light men’s room neon soundwave neon light cocktail neon sign feel good sign broadcast light sign baby room neon sign neon bar sign love light decor name-in-lights sign fun hello neon espresso neon sign player zone neon garage neon sign music neon sign cocktail neon sign happy neon sign on air neon sign nursery neon light (similar web-site)'s "Anora" claiming five Oscars, including for best film, lead actress and director. Director Sean Baker's movie about an exotic dancer and sex worker who has the chance of a Cinderella story when she marries the son of a Russian oligarch, received broad critical acclaim -- but modest box office success. Its 25-year-old star, Mikey Madison, scored an upset victory for best actress over sentimental favorite Demi Moore, who received a Screen Actors Guild award for her portrayal as an aging television star who finds a potion that can make her look younger in "The Substance." Another independent darling, A24, collected a trio of Academy Awards for "The Brutalist," including best actor for Adrien Brody for his portrayal of a Hungarian-Jewish architect rebuilding his life in America after the Holocaust.

The independent films triumphed over more broadly popular films, such as Universal Pictures' "Wicked" and Warner Bros' "Dune: Part Two," which were acknowledged for technical achievement, such as costume and production design and visual effects. "We always jump into these projects knowing we will have to compete with films that have budgets almost 100 times what we shot our film for," Baker told reporters after the Oscar ceremony. "When we're actually able to do that, get into the same room as films such as 'Wicked,' it means we're doing something right." Latvian independent film "Flow," a wordless animated film which follows a cat and other animals that band together after losing their homes in a flood, received the Oscar for best animated picture -- besting Pixar Animation's blockbuster "Inside Out 2" and DreamWorks' "Wild Robot." Netflix, which led the Oscar nominations, collected three awards, including best supporting actress for Zoe Saldaña in "Emilia Perez." Baker, in accepting multiple Oscars, implored fans to go to the cinema to support movies, especially independent theaters.

(Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski, Editing by Nick Zieminski)