Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history this year as the first woman to shoot a movie in IMAX 65mm, but the greatness of her work on “Sinners” goes beyond the stuff that interests format wonks. Regardless of film gauge, the haunting, funny, rousing, poignant, terrifying vampire film is simply one of the most beautiful movies ever made, a movie where the photography expresses theme and character with elegance, complexity, and an awe-inspiring tonal range.
When Arkapaw accepted the Impact Award at this year’s IndieWire Honors ceremony, held at Hollywood’s Nya West on December 4, she began by referencing her “Sinners” director and trusted collaborator Ryan Coogler. “I’m going to try and channel Ryan because he’s so good at this stuff,” she said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with people that have supported me and trusted me with their ideas, and these directors have become family even outside of work. They’ve allowed me to think big and always contribute my visual taste.”
Arkapaw said this trust is what allowed her to thrive as a woman in a field still largely dominated by men. “This is so important for any filmmaker, especially one who looks like me. It helped me truly feel like I had something unique to say, and that my strong perspective mattered. I’ve been able to make an impact because of the community I’ve surrounded myself with. I believe you can only be impactful if you’re given the space to be seen and to express yourself. I want to make images that resonate and inspire, and being in a field where women have historically been few, I hope to show others that they can enter this industry with courage.”
Arkapaw once again mentioned Coogler as a key partner in this regard. “Ryan Coogler creates an atmosphere where people feel supported, where your ideas have weight, where your time and your efforts are respected in an environment where you can openly be yourself. What a powerful place to be. Creative. It’s like a great teacher that sees something in you and wants to shine a light on our talent. The images we’ve created in ‘Sinners’ are meant to be yours because they were created with so much love. Thank you for embracing them and holding them close. It means the world to me and my team that the work has impacted audiences so much. Thank you for this.”
