Autumn Durald Arkapaw has made history at the Academy Awards after winning Best Cinematography for ‘Sinners’, becoming the first woman to claim the honour. She is also the first woman of colour to receive the award.
The cinematographer, who is of Filipino and African American Creole heritage, achieved another milestone with the film as the first female cinematographer to shoot using IMAX 65mm and Ultra Panavision formats.
In her acceptance speech, Arkapaw thanked director Ryan Coogler for placing his trust in her. She expressed gratitude for the support she received during the awards campaign and acknowledged fellow cinematographer Rachel Morrison, crediting the encouragement of women in the industry for helping make the moment possible.
Backstage at the ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Arkapaw received a warm reception from peers and supporters. She said achievements like hers are the result of collective support, adding that the recognition represents progress beyond her individual success.
Historically, very few women have been nominated in the category. Morrison became the first in 2018 for Mudbound, followed by Ari Wegner for ‘The Power of the Dog’ in 2021 and Mandy Walker for ‘Elvis’ in 2022. Arkapaw’s win marks the first time the prize has gone to a female cinematographer.
Her work on Sinners marks her second collaboration with Coogler following ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. The film attracted significant attention this awards season and set a record with 16 Oscar nominations across major categories, including Best Picture, Director, Actor for Michael B. Jordan, as well as honours for editing, sound, visual effects and original score.
One of the film’s most discussed sequences is the “piercing the veil” scene, which shifts from realism into a surreal visual moment before returning to the narrative. Arkapaw previously explained that the sequence was designed to transition the story through changing visual perspectives while introducing key characters.
