Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes History With Best Cinematography Oscar Win
Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history Sunday night when she won the Academy Award for best cinematography for Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners. ” Her acceptance speech highlighted the role of women on the campaign, and the win marks multiple firsts for the cinematography category.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s Historic Oscar Win
Arkapaw asked all the women in the room to stand up during her acceptance speech, saying, “I don’t get here without you. ” She spoke of the support she felt throughout the campaign: “I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and gotten to meet so many people, and I just feel like moments like this happen because of you guys. “
Her victory is being reported as the first time a woman has won the Academy Award for best cinematography. It is also noted as the first time a Black cinematographer has taken the prize.
Technical Ambition: Two Large Film Formats and 65 mm Firsts
Director Ryan Coogler and Arkapaw undertook an uncommon technical approach on “Sinners, ” shooting the feature entirely in two different large formats: Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX. That combination has been described as a first for a feature film.
The American Society of Cinematographers noted that Arkapaw became the first woman cinematographer to shoot a feature in IMAX 65 mm — or on any 65 mm film format. Arkapaw thanked Coogler directly in her speech, saying, “Whenever I say thank you to Ryan, he replies and says, ‘No, thank you. ‘ Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for trusting me. And that’s the kind of guy that I get to make films with. “
Coverage of the film’s production also detailed a deliberate blending of formats to achieve different visual effects, including the use of specific anamorphic lenses and older glass to impart period texture. Some lenses for the project were engineered by Panavision personnel, and the production drew on lenses historically associated with earlier cinematic spectacles.
Career Context, Past Nominations and Industry Significance
Only three other women had ever been nominated in the cinematography category prior to this win: Rachel Morrison for “Mudbound, ” Ari Wegner for “The Power of the Dog, ” and Mandy Walker for “Elvis. ” One account noted that Arkapaw was the first woman of color ever to be nominated in the category before converting that nomination into a victory.
Arkapaw has previously collaborated with Coogler on the 2022 film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. ” Her other credited cinematography work includes the films “The Last Showgirl” and “Teen Spirit. “
The combination of a historic personal milestone and an uncommon technical approach on a high-profile narrative like “Sinners” has placed Arkapaw’s win at a crossroads of artistic recognition and industry precedent. The win closes a chapter on long-running conversations about representation behind the camera while underscoring the practical, technical advances teams are taking to realize ambitious cinematic visions.
The immediate next developments are expected to center on the film’s ongoing reception and the broader attention the victory will bring to both Arkapaw’s future projects and the technical possibilities showcased by “Sinners. ” The award ceremony itself provided the confirmation of her achievement and the moment she used to spotlight other women in the industry.
