Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes History as First Female Oscar Winner for Cinematography

The director of photography for "Sinners" is the first Black woman to win the coveted award.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:25pm

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In nearly 100 years of Oscar history, only three women had ever been nominated for Best Cinematography before Autumn Durald Arkapaw. On Sunday night, Arkapaw made history by becoming the first woman and first Black woman to win the prestigious award for her work on the film "Sinners".

Why it matters

Cinematography has consistently ranked among the lowest categories in terms of female representation across Hollywood's behind-the-scenes roles. Arkapaw's win is a significant milestone for women in filmmaking, breaking a long-standing glass ceiling in the industry.

The details

During her acceptance speech, Arkapaw recognized the weight of the history she was making, crediting all the women in the room for paving the way. Prior to Arkapaw, only three women had ever been nominated for Best Cinematography: Rachel Morrison, Ari Wegner, and Mandy Walker. Arkapaw, who was born in Southern California to a Filipino and African American Creole mother, found her passion for filmmaking after taking a genre film class in college. She went on to build an impressive career, shooting music videos and eventually breaking into feature films, including collaborations with director Ryan Coogler on "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Sinners".

  • Arkapaw won the Best Cinematography Oscar on March 16, 2026 at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.
  • She was the first Black woman to be nominated in the category, which has existed since the Oscars began in 1929.

The players

Autumn Durald Arkapaw

An American cinematographer who made history as the first woman and first Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography for her work on the film "Sinners".

Ryan Coogler

An American film director, producer, and screenwriter who collaborated with Arkapaw on the films "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Sinners".

Rachel Morrison

An American cinematographer who was the first woman to be nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar in 2018 for the film "Mudbound".

Ari Wegner

An Australian cinematographer who was nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar in 2021 for the film "The Power of the Dog".

Mandy Walker

An Australian cinematographer who was nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar in 2022 for the film "Elvis".

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What they’re saying

“I really want all the women in the room to stand up, because I feel like I don't get here without you guys. I really, really, truly mean that. 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.”

— Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Acceptance speech at the 98th Academy Awards)

The takeaway

Arkapaw's historic win as the first woman and first Black woman to receive the Oscar for Best Cinematography is a significant milestone for diversity and inclusion in the film industry. Her achievement serves as an inspiration for aspiring cinematographers and highlights the importance of creating more opportunities for underrepresented groups in Hollywood's behind-the-scenes roles.