Feb 17, 2026 12:43pm IST
Oscars 2026: ‘Sinners’ DoP Autumn Durald Arkapaw and the 118-Year Wait for a Female Cinematography Win
With Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ shattering the all-time Oscar record with 16 nominations, the spotlight turns to the woman who captured its haunting 65mm visuals—and the history she is about to make.
Last month, when the Academy disclosed the nominations for 2026, it became a historic night as “Sinners” broke records to become the film with the most nominations in the history of the Oscars. Ryan Coogler’s beloved film bagged 16 nominations in total, including the biggest honors of the night. While that history was being made, another story was being written quietly: Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw has been nominated for Best Cinematography, and fans are confident she is poised to win.
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If Arkapaw manages to secure the Academy Award for her stellar work in “Sinners,” she will become the first woman to win an Oscar in the Best Cinematography category in the history of the awards. Long dominated by men, the cinematography section at the Oscars only welcomed its first female nominee as recently as 2018. With Arkapaw making the cut and standing as a top contender according to fans and cinephiles alike, we are likely approaching an iconic moment in film history.
The History
If the fact that the first female nomination for Best Cinematography only arrived in 2018 is shocking, it may be encouraging to note that four stellar women have made the cut since then. Rachel Morrison was nominated for “Mudbound” in 2018, followed by Ari Wegner for “The Power of the Dog” in 2022, and Mandy Walker for “Elvis” in 2023.
Before this shift, the category was ruled entirely by men; these four women have worked incredibly hard to carve out their space in what has often felt like a pace owned by men Speaking to Vanity Fair, Durald Arkapaw noted: “[It’s about] what it would represent for all women in film. We know that there aren’t as many women as men when we’re standing on the set. Me going out there to promote the film is important because it gives people hope for the business.”
“In our industry, certain milestones tend to cement things for different cultures or genders,” she added. “They become important to show that we’re moving in a great direction—so I feel the pressure of that.”
About Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Born in Oxnard, Durald Arkapaw developed an early interest in cinematography but struggled to find female role models in the field until she discovered Ellen Kuras, the talent behind “Blow.” “There was one,” Arkapaw recalled. “So, I thought, 'Oh, if there’s one, there can be more.'”
After graduating from the American Film Institute, she worked on music videos for several popular artists before landing a role on the set of “Palo Alto”, directed by Gia Coppola.
She originally met Ryan Coogler during the production of “Creed” (2015), but they were unable to collaborate at the time as the studio felt she wasn't yet "ready." Soon enough, however, she found her stride on the series “Loki,” eventually leading her to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and a long-term partnership with Coogler. “[Coogler and I] hit it off. I think this Bay Area thing was special; it’s like I knew him already,” she said.
“Sinners” certainly presented its own unique challenges. The film features Michael B. Jordan in a double role, with both characters frequently appearing on screen together. Additionally, it is the first movie to be shot using two entirely different camera formats: Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX. Despite these hurdles, Durald Arkapaw emerged victorious, and the rest, as they say, is history.
It will be exciting to see who takes the Oscar home on March 15, 2026. If Autumn Durald Arkapaw is declared the winner, she will cement her name in the Academy Award record books as the first woman to win for Best Cinematography — finally claiming the last category yet to be won by a woman.
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