3 local filmmakers highlighted with Oscars nominations
SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Three local filmmakers are looking ahead to this year's Oscars ceremony after their film received six Academy Awards nominations on Thursday. South Glens Falls natives Stephen Phelps, Ryan Fitzgerald and Christopher Phelps worked directly on the set of Best Picture nominee "Anora."
Production Designer Stephen Phelps, Art Director Fitzgerald and Set Decorator Christopher Phelps collaborated closely with the film's director, Sean Baker. The trio was responsible for the production's art department as well as designing the film's sets and props.
"Anora," released in theaters in October, was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. The film also received high praise at the 2025 Golden Globes with five nominations and at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest award.
The Phelps brothers and Fitzgerald began working together in high school 25 years ago, making short films. They gained local recognition in 2005 with "The Ravacon Show," a television production at LookTV. They also produced an award-winning horror film called "Lake Nowhere" in 2014.
More recently, the trio has produced and directed music videos for bands like The Black Crowes and Vundabar and have contributed to numerous feature films, such as "Notice to Quit" in 2024, "The Sweet East" in 2023 and "Good Time" in 2017. They also worked on "Peter Hujar's Day," directed by Ira Sachs, which will debut at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27.
Fitzgerald and the Phelps brothers now operate their own video production company in Brooklyn called Ursidae Parade Productions. They also have a studio in the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls where they continue producing short films and music videos.
The 97th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 2 and will be aired live on ABC and Hulu starting at 7 p.m. A full list of this year's nominees can be found on the Oscars website.
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