'Sinners' DP makes Oscar history as the first Fil-Am nominee for Best Cinematography
Filipino-American Autumn Durald Arkapaw has become the first woman of color to be nominated at the Oscars for Best Cinematography for her work in the film, Sinners.
Arkapaw was nominated alongside Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams), Michael Bauman (One Battle After Another), Dan Laustsen (Frankenstein), and Darius Khondji (Marty Supreme).
Born to a Filipino mother and Creole father, Arpakaw became the fourth woman to be nominated in the same category, following Rachel Morrison for Mudbound in 2018, Ari Wegner for The Power of the Dog in 2021, and Mandy Walker for Elvis in 2022.
“I thought how special it would be for in the future someone to look up this nomination, because I’m the fourth woman. And I know the ones that came before me," she told Variety after her historic nomination.
“It means the world when young girls, or film students of similar heritage, come up to me and express their gratitude, not just for the work, but for the fact that they can see someone like themselves behind the camera," she added.
If she wins, she would be the first woman of color to receive the award.
Arkapaw majored in art history at Loyola Marymount University and later entered the AFI Conservatory’s cinematography program. Her work on Sinners marked a significant milestone, as it was the first film shot by a female cinematographer using IMAX 65mm and large-format 65mm film cameras.
She has been making her mark in the industry, having worked in films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Palo Alto, and The Last Showgirl.
Helmed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners is a horror-drama that follows twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) whose plans unravel into chaos when a rogue vampire appears. It has set a new record in the award-giving body, bagging 16 nominations, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay.
