Ryan Coogler understands what Sunday night could mean for Oscar history. He's just not dwelling on it.

Instead, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker is looking forward to spending one more night with his "Sinners" collaborators who helped bring the film to life.

Coogler could become the first Black filmmaker to win best director in the Academy Awards' nearly century-long history. While speaking before the eighth annual Macro Pre-Oscars party Thursday night in Los Angeles, he said he's trying to stay present as the ceremony approaches.

"I'm just trying to enjoy the days as they come, stay present in the moment," Coogler told The Associated Press. "When Sunday comes, man, I'm pull up and enjoy celebrating all the movies that's being celebrated here, including our own."

For Coogler, the Oscars also mark the final stop in a monthslong journey shared with the cast and creative team behind "Sinners."

Since early January, the group has traveled the awards circuit together, appearing at major stops including the Golden Globes,Actors Awards and NAACP Image Awards as the film built momentum ahead of the Oscars, where it's the leading nominee with 16.

Coogler said that experience helped turn the production into something closer to a family.

"We made a big ole family," he said. "Sunday kind of represents the last time that we all get to hang with each other in an official capacity as the 'Sinners' team."

After the ceremony, those gatherings will likely become less frequent.

"The next time we see each other, it won't be for this movie unless it's doing like a reunion or something," Coogler said. "I'm looking forward to hanging out with a lot of people that I love. We were able to do something very specific... Read More