Women will be making Oscar history this year as the Academy Awards season gathers momentum. Every ceremony delivers landmark feats, from Katharine Hepburn’s four Best Actress wins to Meryl Streep’s twenty-one nominations. This season, women seem equally determined to leave statistics blushing.

Women will be making history at the Oscars this year, beginning with a groundbreaking shift in cinematography recognition. This is the first year that cinematography has been included in the Oscar shortlist, and the names of three female filmmakers stand strong.

The women who made the cut are Autumn Durald Arkapaw for Sinners, Alice Brooks for Wicked: For Good, and Amy Vincent for Song Sung Blue. Their presence directly challenges a category historically dominated by male cinematographers.

Aside from the them, the list also includes Dan Laustsen, Guillermo del Toro’s go-to DP, and Robbie Ryan, who works regularly with Yorgos Lanthimos. Predictably respected, they now share space with a quietly disruptive cohort.

The women stand unbowed, carried forward by odds that finally lean their way.

Women rule the Cinematography nominations at Oscar 2026

Either one of the women nominated could take the Oscar for Best Cinematography home, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw emerging as a front-runner. This year, Arkapaw made history as the first female cinematographer to shoot on Imax 65mm and Ultra Panavision for Sinners.

With a win, Arkapaw would become the first woman, and the first Filipina/African American, to win the category. Her odds appear favorable, given technical ambition and visibility. Alice Brooks and Amy Vincent remain close contenders in a competitive field.

Emotions were key to Wicked and its conclusion, Wicked: For Good. Alice Brooks shaped visual storytelling through light and density, strengthening her awards chances. Meanwhile, Amy Vincent’s work on Song Sung Blue positions her as a serious, understated challenger.

Taken together, the odds suggest a real breakthrough moment. Arkapaw leads on innovation, Brooks on expressive symbolism, and Vincent on refined restraint. Voters face a rare decision where history, craft, and momentum converge, making a woman’s win not symbolic, but probable.

Who do you want to win the Oscar award? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui