A Woman of Colour, A Woman of ‘Firsts’

‘Sinners’ DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw recently made Oscar history as the first ever woman of colour nominated for Best Cinematography.

Autumn, a cinematographer of Filipino and Creole heritage, is nominated for her work on Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ (2025), which leads this year’s Oscars with a whopping 16 nominations.

She’s also only the fourth woman ever nominated for Best Cinematography.

Cinematography remains one of the least representative categories in film for women and for POC.

Speaking on representation, Autumn has said that seeing someone of similar heritage and gender behind the camera matters as much as the work itself - especially for young filmmakers looking for proof that they belong in the industry.

“We know there will be Black and Brown girls and boys who see themselves in us, looking for inspiration. If we approach our work with care, it can help light the way for someone else's journey, and to me, that's truly beautiful.”

Following her earlier work on ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, Autumn has also become the first woman in history to shoot a feature film handheld on an IMAX 70mm camera.

“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.”

We’re celebrating Autumn’s groundbreaking work behind the camera, as well as her incredible visual wins on the big screen, with or without the Oscar win.