Fil-Am Autumn Durald Arkapaw dedicates, honors women for historic Oscar win

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — The historic Oscar win of Filipino-American "Sinners" director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw continues to be celebrated as a major milestone for women in the film industry and around the world.

During the 2026 Academy Awards, Arkapaw became the first woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. This after becoming just the fourth woman — and the first woman of color — ever to be nominated in that category.

Arkapaw received a standing ovation after her name was called by presenter Demi Moore, who also shared a brief congratulatory message onstage before Autumn gave her acceptance.

After calling out for her son Aidan, Arkapaw commended her "Sinners" director Ryan Coogler for the trust he gave her and also had a shoutout to fellow female cinematographers Ellen Kuras and Rachel Morrison.

Kuras is an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee, best known for shooting "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" while Morrison, a past collaborator of Coogler's, was the first woman ever to be nominated for the Cinematography Oscar.

One touching moment from Arkapaw's acceptance speech was her asking all the women present to stand up, citing they were the reason she is now onstage.

"I really, truly mean that. I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign," Arkapaw said. "I just feel like moments like this happen because of you."

'It does take a village'

Later in the press room, Arkapaw quipped feeling like being in a Sotheby's auction facing reporters, then answered a question regarding what her nomination and win signifiy for female representation in cinematography.

Arkapaw acknowledged the trickiness of addressing why it took 98 years to honor a woman for cinematography and worried that organizers might usher her away.

"A lot of little girls that look like me will sleep really well tonight because they'll want to become cinematographers, and I know that in here," she tapped her chest, receiving some warm applause.

She added that just being onstage, being recognized for working on a film like "Sinners," a genre-defying film with a mainly Black cast, would inspire and change so many girls' lives.

The filmmaker quoted Asian-American singer Karen O, "You have to see you to be you," and again praised Coogler for allowing the women on "Sinners" — many of them department heads — opportunities to shine and be in a creative environment where they are leading.

Arkapaw again thanked Morrison for recommending her to Coogler when she was unavailable. Morrison shot Coogler's "Fruitvale Station" and "Black Panther," the sequel of which was Arkapaw's first collaboration with the director.

The cinematographer then reflected on the moment all the women present stood up, reiterating her win wouldn't have happened if women didn't stand up and advocate for other women.

"I've learned over the past few months going through this process that it does take a village to make stuff like this happen," Arkapaw ended. "But this isn't about me anymore, this is about so much more. And I know that and I wanted it for all the ladies in the room and the girls at home."

Arkapaw is Filipino from her mother's side and African American Creole on her father's side. The only other women to be nominated for the Cinematography Oscar were Ari Wegner and Mandy Walker.

"Sinners" won a total of four Oscars, its tally including a Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, and Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson (his third win from three nods in the category). — Videos from ABC News and the Oscars' YouTube channels

RELATED: Fil-Am makes history as 1st woman to win best Oscar cinematography for ‘Sinners’