Sinners was an exquisite culinary experience for the entire cast and crew. This is one of the reasons why the Ryan Coogler film was affectionately nicknamed "Grilled Cheese" behind the scenes, before it went on to win four trophies at the 2026 Oscars, including Michael B. Jordan's emotionally charged win for Best Lead Actor.
"With 'Grilled Cheese,' it was something that Ryan truly wanted to bring to life," cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw told CBS Mornings in a March 11 interview. "It was about being down and dirty, something that you can whip up quickly but still tastes incredibly delicious."
Though Sinners ultimately transformed into a "Michelin 12-courser" for the cinematographer, the tasty code name captured the essence of the filmmaking crew's spirit. "That was [Ryan's] initial concept of how we were going to approach this film," the 46-year-old continued. "Something that can be swift and gritty."
Ryan's playful and collaborative mindset was also a key aspect of Autumn's acceptance speech after she made history as the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the award show, hosted by Conan O'Brien at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on March 15.
"Whenever I say thank you to Ryan, he always responds by saying, 'No, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for trusting me,'" she said from the stage. "And that's the kind of person that I'm fortunate enough to collaborate with. He's a very honorable person, and he means it. He truly means it."
Furthermore, Autumn shared a powerful moment with the women in the audience. "I really want all the women in this room to stand up, because I don't think I would be here without you guys," she continued. "I felt so much love and support from all the women throughout this entire campaign, and I've had the privilege of meeting so many amazing people. And I genuinely believe that moments like this happen because of you guys, and I want to thank you for that."
