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Danville has been in the national news this week as the hometown of the first woman, and first woman of color, to win an Oscar for Best Cinematography in the nearly century-long history of the Academy Awards.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who was raised in Danville and graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in 1996, celebrated not just a career milestone with her first-ever Oscar win on March 15, but a historic milestone for the Academy when she received the award for her work as director of photography on “Sinners”.
In addition to her filmmaking skills being recognized by the award, Durald Arkapaw’s acceptance speech itself led to a cinematic moment as she asked all of the women in the audience to stand up “because I wouldn’t be here without you all, and I truly mean that”.
“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,” she continued.
Durald Arakapaw — who is of Creole and Filipina descent — broke two records with her win, becoming the first woman of color to be nominated in the category and the first woman ever to win it in the Academy’s 98-year history.
Born in Oxnard, Durald Arkapaw’s family went on to move to the San Ramon Valley when she was a child, where she attended local schools before going on to study art history at Loyola Marymount University then cinematography at the American Film Institute, where she graduated in 2009.
“Danville has long valued the arts as an essential part of a vibrant and connected community,” said Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich, who was elected to his first term on the Town Council shortly before Durald Arkapaw’s graduation in the 1990s.
“We are honored to count Autumn among our own, and we look forward to seeing her continued success on the world stage,” he continued. “Congratulations, Autumn — your hometown is cheering you on.”
Although Durald Arakapaw’s time at the district was years before SRVUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack came on board, Cammack called her win a “terrific achievement by an SRVHS graduate.”
“Sinners” itself had already made history before this year’s Oscars ceremony, racking up a total of 16 nominations and breaking the all-time record for number of nominations garnered for a single film. The film took home four of those awards total, with Michael B. Jordan earning Best Actor for his dual role playing twin brothers, Oakland native Ryan Coogler earning Best Screenplay and Ludwig Göransson earning Best Score.
In addition to thanking women in film during her acceptance speech, Durald Arkapaw pointed to support from her family and her ongoing collaboration with Coogler — who she worked with previously on 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” — as critical elements that had made her journey to the win possible.
Durald Arkapaw first rose to widespread prominence at the start of another ongoing collaboration with Gia Coppola in the latter’s directorial debut “Palo Alto” in 2013, and most recently on 2024’s “The Last Showgirl”.
“Her achievement is a powerful reminder that talent, creativity, and determination can open doors and redefine what is possible,” Arnerich said. “For our students here in the San Ramon Valley, Autumn’s success serves as a national example that global impact can begin right here at home.”
