Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes Oscar History as First Woman of Colour Cinematographer
Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history at the 98th Academy Awards by winning Best Cinematography for the film Sinners. She is the first woman in nearly a century and the first woman of colour to claim this prestigious Oscar. Born to African American Creole and Filipino parents, Autumn drew on her heritage while filming in the US South. In her acceptance speech, she asked all the women in the room to stand and reminded young girls that the camera belongs to them. Her career highlights include shooting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, defining the look of Marvel’s Loki, and lensing Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” video. She also pioneered feature work in IMAX 65mm and Ultra Panavision 70, blending technical mastery with powerful storytelling.
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