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“Sinners” cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history on Sunday night as the first woman and first Black person to win the Oscar for best cinematography.
Arkapaw is only the third woman to be nominated in the category in Academy Awards history. Before winning the award, she had already made history as the first-ever woman of color nominated in the category.
Arkapaw took to the stage with thunderous applause from the crowd at the Dolby Theatre.
“Whenever I say thank you to Ryan [Coogler], he replies and says, ‘No, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for trusting me.’ And that’s the kind of guy who I get to make films with,” Arkapaw said. “And he means it. He really, truly means it.”
She went on to say that she believed that meeting Coogler was destined.
“I feel like I had to meet him. This little girl that — their mother, who is over there, told them that they could do anything — had to meet Ryan,” she said.
Arkapaw then asked all of the women in the room to stand up with her.
“I really want all the women in the room to stand up, because I feel like I don’t get here without you guys,” Arkapaw continued. “I really, really, truly mean that. I have felt so much love from all of the women on this whole campaign.”
Coogler’s “Sinners” broke an Oscars record with 16 total nominations at the 98th Academy Awards. The film took home four Oscars.
Now that all the Academy Awards have been handed out, it’s time to party!
Watch “Live With Kelly and Mark: After the Oscars,” live from the Oscars stage at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Monday at 9 a.m.
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