Instagram/Autumn Durald Arkapaw & M Movie Historic Oscar win: Autumn Durald Arkapaw breaks 98-year male streak, becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography. A landmark moment for women in film. March 16, 2026 AceShowbiz - At the 2026 Oscars, the longstanding male dominance in the Best Cinematography category was broken by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who became the first woman ever to win this prestigious award. This milestone ended a 98-year streak of male winners in one of the Academy Awards' oldest categories.