WOMEN WE LOVE: Autumn Durald Arkapaw

Last weekend, history was made when Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to ever win Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards for her work in Sinners. Previous to her Oscar accomplishment, she had also become the first woman to ever shoot a feature film in large-format IMAX. Beyond being the first woman to win the category, she was also the first woman of color to ever be nominated.

Durald grew up in the Bay Area, with Filipino heritage from her mom’s side and Creole from her dad’s. An appreciator of the arts, she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Art History from Loyola Marymount University and later on with a Master’s from AFI’s cinematography program. Her training shows just how dedicated she is to her practice. She initially planned to be a gallery curator or a photographer, but after feeling inspired by Gordon Willis and Michael Chapman’s cinematography, she decided to look into the career. She noticed that there weren’t many women in the field. In fact, out of all key positions in filmmaking, cinematography is the role that employs women the least. In the top 250 films of 2025, women only comprised 7% of all cinematographers. Durald then discovered the work of Ellen Kuras and was inspired to pursue cinematography. If there was one woman out there doing it, there could be another one.

She began her career as a cinematographer for independent films and emerging directors. Her first work in a feature film was for Macho, a micro-budget film that was shot during her Summer break at AFI. In 2012, she was invited to shoot Gia Coppola’s directorial debut Palo Alto, and the two have worked together in two other feature films since then. Durald has a rich portfolio, ranging from short films and advertisements to music videos and independent feature films. Recently, she has broken into the world of large-budget filmmaking, including the 2019 rom-dram The Sun Is Also a Star, the Marvel series "Loki", and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, her first collaboration with Sinners writer/director Ryan Coogler.

When reflecting on her work in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Durald recalls having women come up to her and say that they’ve never seen a woman of color in her position. She is an inspiration for other women, encouraging them to pursue a field that they had previously never seen someone like themselves in.

Beyond being a Director of Photography, Durald is also a mom. The lifestyle of a filmmaker can be incompatible with the lifestyle needed to nurture a family, with long hours and traveling for shoots. In a conversation with Rachel Morrison, Durald expressed that becoming a parent has informed the way she shoots films. She is more selective with the projects she takes on, and she feels like being a mother has made her even more capable of being a successful cinematographer, helping her become a better leader, multitasker, and creative individual.

Next up for Durald, she is set to be the Director of Photography of the upcoming "X-Files" reboot, which will reunite her with Ryan Coogler. We can't wait to see what these two bring to the iconic sci-fi franchise!

Durald’s historic Oscar win is an incredible personal achievement and holds great significance for all women pursuing careers in film. Her career reflects the persistence needed to break into the industry, especially as a woman. For many young women dreaming of becoming cinematographers, seeing someone like Autumn Durald Arkapaw succeed makes the dream feel attainable. In such a male-dominated industry, she is an inspiration, showing that there is space for new eyes behind the camera and that those eyes can shape the future of film.