Academy Award for Achievement in Casting

Last updated
Academy Award for Best Casting
Country United States
Presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
First awardMarch 15, 2026;2 months' time (2026-03-15) (for films released in 2025)
Website oscars.org

The Academy Award for Achievement in Casting, [1] [2] also known as Academy Award forBest Casting, is an upcoming film award which will be presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards.

Contents

It brings 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 Academy Award. [7]

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." [8] 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.

Shortlisted finalists

Films released in the calendar year prior to the ceremony are eligible. The Casting Directors Branch votes to determine a shortlist of 10 films, followed by nominations (typically five). Academy members view excerpts and interviews with the casting directors before final voting. [9]

YearFinalistsRef
2025 Frankenstein , Hamnet , Marty Supreme , One Battle After Another , The Secret Agent , Sentimental Value , Sinners , Sirāt , Weapons , Wicked: For Good [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". press.oscars.org. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  2. ↑ Hammond, Pete (2024-02-08). "Motion Picture Academy Creates Casting Category, First New Competitive Oscar Since 2001". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  3. ↑ Hammond, Pete (February 8, 2024). "Motion Picture Academy Creates Casting Category, First New Competitive Oscar Since 2001". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ Davis, Clayton (2024-02-08). "Oscars Add New Category for Best Casting, Beginning for 2025 Films". Variety. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "Lynn Stalmaster to accept first Academy Award for casting". The Seattle Times. November 10, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "ACADEMY ESTABLISHES CASTING AWARD FOR 98TH OSCARS®". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ Davis, Clayton (2025-12-16). "Oscars Shortlists Announced in 12 Categories: 'Sinners' and 'Wicked: For Good' Lead, 'Sirât' Gets Strong Showing". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
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