From ‘Wakanda’ to ‘Sinners’… Autumn Durald Arkapaw, First Woman of Color to Win Oscar for Cinematography

A historic moment was born as a woman finally lifted the trophy in the cinematography category, considered one of the most solid barriers at the Academy Awards. On March 15 (local time), at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the cinematographer of the film ‘Sinners’, became the first woman and woman of color to win the Best Cinematography award.

◆ The door to women’s cinematography opened after 98 years… Autumn Durald changes history

With this award, Autumn Durald earned the title of the first woman to win the Best Cinematography award in Academy history. Until now, the cinematography category had been a conservative area for women, with only three women—Rachel Morrison (Mudbound), Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog), and Mandy Walker (Elvis)—nominated. Durald, as the fourth nominee, set a dual record as the first nominee and first winner among women of color, establishing a new milestone in the film industry.

◆ The visual impact of ‘Sinners’… A perfect partnership with director Ryan Coogler

The assessment that Autumn Durald’s win was a foregone conclusion is dominant. She expanded the fantastic synergy she had with director Ryan Coogler in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in ‘Sinners’. This achievement came after surpassing renowned masters like Darius Khondji (Mati Diop), and Michael Bauman (One Battle After Another). She had already swept numerous critics' awards before the win and was recognized for her world-class technical skills through nominations from the British Academy (BAFTA) and the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

◆ From Marvel’s ‘Loki’ to the Oscars… The most notable gaze in Hollywood

Autumn Durald has established herself as one of the most promising cinematographers in Hollywood by showcasing a sensuous and sophisticated mise-en-scène through Marvel series ‘Loki’ and ‘Wakanda Forever’. In particular, her camera has been praised for its exceptional ability to capture both the inner psychology of characters and the grandeur of the background simultaneously. In ‘Sinners’, she captivated the hearts of Oscar voters with her unique visual beauty that maximized the contrast between light and darkness.

◆ “All women, please stand up”… A round of applause of solidarity that filled the award ceremony

Upon taking the stage to accept her award, Durald made a touching speech that brought silence to the room. After expressing her gratitude to the production team and cast, she requested all the women in the audience to stand up. She expressed her deep respect for the solidarity and support of women filmmakers, saying, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here today.” In response, all attendees in the room celebrated her historic win with a standing ovation.