Global South artists score big wins at Oscars 2026
Artists with roots across the Global South took centre stage at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, winning major prizes across animation, cinematography and acting and highlighting the growing presence of diverse voices in Hollywood.
From Korean pop culture to Filipino heritage and African diasporic identity, several winners used their acceptance speeches to reflect on representation and cultural pride.
‘Golden’ makes history for K-pop
The Netflix animated film “Kpop Demon Hunters” scored two major wins: Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song for the track “Golden.”
Released in 2025, the film follows a fictional K-pop girl group that uses music to fight supernatural enemies. Its soundtrack has generated global hits, with “Golden” becoming the first K-pop song to win an Academy Award.
Singer Ejae, who performs the track and voices the singing parts of the film’s lead character Rumi, spoke about the significance of the moment.
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop,” she said during the acceptance speech. “But now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud.”
Director Maggie Kang also addressed the importance of representation when accepting the award for Best Animated Feature alongside Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle LM Wong.
“For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took so long to see us in a movie like this,” Kang said. “But it is here, and that means the next generations don’t have to go longing.”
“K-Pop Demon Hunters” had already won Golden Globe awards earlier in the season for both best animated feature and best original song.
Filipino-American breaks a century-long barrier
Filipino-American cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made Oscars history by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography.
Arkapaw won the award for her work on Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners,” ending a nearly century-long male stronghold in the category.
She also became the first Filipino, the first Black woman and the first Asian woman to receive the prize.
Arkapaw, whose family roots trace to Masantol, Pampanga in the Philippines as well as the American South, had already been widely recognised during awards season for her work on the film.
“Sinners,” a vampire horror film that explores race relations, received 16 Oscar nominations. Among its producers is Zinzi Coogler, who became the first Filipino nominated for Best Picture.
Arkapaw also set technical milestones during production, becoming the first woman to shoot on both IMAX film and Ultra Panavision, and the only cinematographer to use IMAX film stock developed by Kodak specifically for the film.
Michael B. Jordan honours African roots
“Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor award for his role in the film, marking his first Academy Award.
During his acceptance speech, Jordan thanked director Ryan Coogler and acknowledged the Black actors who paved the way before him, including Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry.
“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” he said.
Jordan also highlighted his family’s support, noting the global journey behind the moment.
“My dad came in from Ghana to be here,” he told the audience at the Dolby Theatre.
With the win, Jordan joins a small group of Black actors who have received the Best Actor Oscar, including Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Forrest Whitaker, Poitier and Washington.
The victories across several categories underscored the growing influence of artists connected to the Global South at Hollywood’s biggest awards ceremony.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
