Danville Native Becomes First Woman To Win Best Cinematography Oscar

DANVILLE, CA — San Ramon Valley High School alumnus Autumn Cheyenne Durald Arkapaw made history Sunday night as the first woman and the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Arkapaw won the award for her work on the film "Sinners," which won four Oscars and a record 16 Oscar nominations, in addition to several other awards.

Arkapaw, 45, was born in Oxnard and grew up in the Bay Area. She is of Filipino descent on her mother's side, and Black Creole on her father's side. She graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in 1996 and Loyola Marymount in 2002. She later graduated from the AFI Conservatory's cinematography program.

Arkapaw began her career in advertising before working on the cinematography for a number of films, TV shows, and music videos, including "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," "Palo Alto," and music videos for Rihanna, The Weeknd, and Solange Knowles.

For her work in "Sinners," Arkapaw also received a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography, a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Cinematography, a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography, and a National Board of Review Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography. She has also been nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in the Marvel Disney+ show "Loki."

"I'm so honored to be here, and I really want all the women in this room to stand up, because I feel like I don't get here without you guys," Arkapaw said during her acceptance speech. "I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and gotten to meet so many people, and I just feel like moments like this happen because of you guys, and I just want to thank you for that."

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