London, Feb 23: Ryan Coogler has made history at the BAFTA Awards, marking a major milestone in his career by becoming the first Black winner in the category of Original Screenplay for his film Sinners. The moment was met with loud applause as Coogler walked to the stage to accept the prestigious honour.

In his speech, Coogler expressed his surprise and gratitude, saying, “I didn’t expect that. This is nerve-wracking.” He went on to acknowledge the community that supported him, saying, “I come from a community that loves me. They made me believe that I could do this, that I could be a writer. And it was amazing to be accepted into the community of film actors, the community of Los Angeles.”

Coogler also offered advice to aspiring writers: “For all the writers out there, when y’all look at that blank page, think of who you love, think of anybody who you’ve seen in pain that you identify with and wish they felt better and let that love motivate you. I’ll be forever grateful for this, thank you all,” he added.

He won the award against strong competition, including contenders like I Swear, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, and Sentimental Value.

This win places Coogler in a strong position for the upcoming Academy Awards. At the Oscars, he will face off again against Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value, as well as other nominees including Blue Moon and It Was Just an Accident.

So far, only one Black writer has won the Oscar for Original Screenplay: Jordan Peele for Get Out, which, like Sinners, is a horror film. Coogler’s historic achievement at the BAFTAs is a significant step in his journey and sets high expectations as he moves toward the Oscars.