Academy Award for Achievement in Casting
| Academy Award for Best Casting | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) |
| First award | March 15, 2026 (for films released in 2025) |
| Most recent winner | Cassandra Kulukundis One Battle After Another (2025) |
| Website | oscars |
The Academy Award for Achievement in Casting,[1][2] also known as Academy Award for Best Casting, is a film award presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards.
After debuting in 2026, it brought the total number of competitive Oscar categories to 24.
Background
The award was announced by the Academy in February 2024, to be presented for the first time at the 98th ceremony in 2026.[3] It is the first new Oscar category introduced since Best Animated Feature Film in 2001.[4] The nominees will be determined by the Casting Directors Branch within the Academy, which was established in 2013 and totaled nearly 160 members at the time of the award's announcement.[5] A category to award achievement in casting had previously been rejected by the Academy in 1999.[6] Prior to the award's establishment, only one casting director, Lynn Stalmaster, had ever received an (honorary) Academy Award.[7] Richard Hicks, governor of the casting director's branch, exclaimed that "we're finally at the moment where casting is recognized as a craft alongside all the others...It's something the casting community has been hoping for 30 years."[8]
History
Casting directors have long advocated for recognition at the Oscars, with efforts dating back to the late 1990s. A similar proposal was considered and rejected in 1999. The Academy created a dedicated Casting Directors Branch in July 2013, which played a key role in building support for the award.
On February 8, 2024, AMPAS announced the creation of the new category, stating: "Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate."[9] Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang highlighted the milestone, while Casting Directors Branch governors Richard Hicks, Kim Taylor-Coleman, and Debra Zane praised it as acknowledgment of the branch's efforts.
Winners and nominees
| Year | Film | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (98th) |
One Battle After Another[10] | Cassandra Kulukundis |
| Hamnet | Nina Gold | |
| Marty Supreme | Jennifer Venditti | |
| The Secret Agent | Gabriel Domingues | |
| Sinners | Francine Maisler |
Shortlisted finalists
The five nominees for Best Casting are selected by the Casting Directors Branch. Branch members vote in order of their preference for not more than 10 pictures to be considered for the Casting award. Only the 10 motion pictures that receive the highest number of votes are eligible to be nominated.[11]
| Year | Finalists | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Sirāt, Weapons, Wicked: For Good | [12] |
See also
References
- ^ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". press.oscars.org. Archived from the original on 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (2024-02-08). "Motion Picture Academy Creates Casting Category, First New Competitive Oscar Since 2001". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (February 8, 2024). "Motion Picture Academy Creates Casting Category, First New Competitive Oscar Since 2001". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2024. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (2024-02-08). "Oscars Add New Category for Best Casting, Beginning for 2025 Films". Variety. Archived from the original on 2025-07-23. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ Conradt, Stacy (February 18, 2010). "The Quick 10: 10 Bygone (or rejected) Academy Awards Categories". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ "Lynn Stalmaster to accept first Academy Award for casting". The Seattle Times. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
- ^ del Barco, Mandalit (March 5, 2026). "At last, an Oscar for the people who decide who gets to star". NPR.
- ^ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2024. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Cassandra Kulukundis Wins Best Casting for 'One Battle After Another' | 98th Oscars Speech (2026)
- ^ "98th Academy Awards of Merit" (PDF). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (December 16, 2025). "Oscars Shortlists Announced in 12 Categories: 'Sinners' and 'Wicked: For Good' Lead, 'Sirât' Gets Strong Showing". Variety. Archived from the original on December 27, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.