NYWIFT Blog

By Tammy Reese

The 98th Academy Awards were historic in every sense, proving that women and the horror genre are making waves in Hollywood and finally receiving the recognition they have long deserved. The night began with a groundbreaking moment as Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, marking a historic win for the horror genre and a reminder that women of all ages can be celebrated for their craft.

 

From there, the evening continued to showcase the power of collaboration, creativity, and resilience across genders, cultures, and disciplines.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by winning Best Cinematography for Sinners, becoming the first woman ever to receive the award and the first to win for a horror film. During her acceptance speech, she asked all the women in the room to stand, turning the moment into a celebration of female achievement and representation behind the camera.

 

 

Kate Hawley took home Best Costume Design for Frankenstein, while Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey won for Makeup and Hairstyling, and Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau were recognized for Production Design, proving that women are shaping the visual and aesthetic language of horror on every level.

 

History continued to be made when Cassandra Kulukundis won the first-ever Oscar for Best Casting for One Battle After Another. In a heartfelt speech, she dedicated her win to casting directors who never had the opportunity to be recognized, or even credited, on the films they helped shape. “I dedicate this to the casting directors who never got a chance to get up here, who didn’t even get a chance to get their name on the movie,” she said, honoring the unseen contributions of generations of professionals. I had the honor of speaking to her backstage in the Oscars Virtual Press Room.

 

 

Check out my interview with Cassandra here:

 

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners dominated the night across multiple categories, further proving that horror is not a niche genre but a space for innovation and artistry. Ludwig Göransson took home Best Original Score, Coogler won Best Original Screenplay, and Michael B. Jordan became the first Black actor to win an Oscar for a horror performance, taking home Best Actor for his leading role. The film’s wins across acting, writing, music, and cinematography underscore the genre’s ability to deliver both artistic excellence and historic milestones.

Other notable moments included Jessie Buckley winning Best Actress for Hamnet, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong taking home Best Animated Feature for KPop Demon Hunters, and One Battle After Another earning Best Picture, with a special shoutout to Teyana Taylor from the cast.

From Cassandra Kulukundis honoring generations of unseen casting directors, to Autumn Durald Arkapaw celebrating women in cinematography, to Jessie Buckley recognizing mothers in her speech, to Amy Madigan breaking barriers for age and genre, the night was a testament to the importance of collaboration, creativity, and optimism in Hollywood.

Women and horror didn’t just dominate the awards — they changed the conversation, showing that the Oscars can reflect a broader, more inclusive vision of talent, artistry, and leadership. This year, the Academy celebrated progress, resilience, and the power of diverse voices shaping the stories we see on screen.

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and winners!

(Photos courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.)