LOS ANGELES — Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history at the 98th Academy Awards by becoming the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. She received the award for her work on the film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler.
Arkapaw’s win marks a major milestone in Hollywood, as the cinematography category had been dominated by men for nearly a century. Before her victory, only three women had ever been nominated in the category’s history.
During her acceptance speech, Arkapaw thanked the cast and crew of Sinners and invited women in the audience to stand, acknowledging their support and influence throughout her journey. She said she felt honored to represent women in an industry where female cinematographers have long been underrepresented.
The 46-year-old cinematographer has previously worked on major projects including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and other films and music videos. Her work on Sinners was widely praised for its bold visual style and use of advanced formats such as IMAX and large-format film.
Arkapaw’s historic Oscar win is seen as a breakthrough moment for women in filmmaking and a significant step toward greater diversity in the global film industry.
