Acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler isn’t too fussed about fame. His latest work, Sinners, has been nominated for the Academy Awards in 16 categories, including Best Director.
But the prestige associated with winning the coveted awards isn’t what drives him to make films. For him, the act of filmmaking is a reward in itself.
Coogler considers filmmaking “the greatest gift”
In an interview with Variety, the Black Panther director revealed that the opportunity to make films and build an ecosystem that provides employment for people who want to work in the industry is what makes his work meaningful.
“With all respect to the Academy … my award is the opportunity to have this job. The opportunity to write a script, get a crew together … contribute to people’s health care … and their families … The fact that I have this job and continue to have it is the greatest gift,” Coogler said.
Ryan Coogler isn’t worried about winning an Oscar — the opportunity to make movies is his ‘award’ 🎞️
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) March 5, 2026
“With all respect to the Academy … my award is the opportunity to have this job. The opportunity to write a script, get a crew together … contribute to people’s health care …… pic.twitter.com/CRlVItqE9b
Coogler, known for weaving social commentary into his films, wants to make sure that his art benefits society at large by helping provide the basic social security net that people in the industry deserve, apart from the obvious but enjoyable mandate of writing scripts and assembling crew members.
He further told Variety that this attitude is informed by his “survivor’s remorse” because it’s easier for him to make films than for other Black filmmakers before him, like Spike Lee, who struggled to find financing for their projects.
His groundedness, he says, has also come from therapy and a happy marriage with Zinzi Evans, his childhood sweetheart. The humility of his statement is also rooted in the fact that he mostly spends time with family and friends who don’t care much about the movie industry.
Hopefully, Sinners could deliver a few Oscar wins, as the recognition could bring him more work, which would ultimately help fulfill his purpose for stepping into the movie-making business.
