The Academy Awards will add a new section for recognizing excellence in casting, marking the institution’s initial addition to its list of competitive accolades in over two decades.
The award follows a long fight by casting directors to be recognised at the ceremony. The category will roll out at the 2026 Oscars.
“Casting directors play an essential role in film-making, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate,” said a statement from the Academy’s CEO, Bill Kramer, and president, Janet Yang. “We congratulate our Casting Directors Branch members on this exciting milestone and for their commitment and diligence throughout this process.”
The Casting Directors Branch, which was founded in 2023, expressed their gratitude for the recognition, stating that it was well-deserved and a testament to their hard work and dedication.
The most recent addition of a competitive category was in 2001 when the best animated feature film Oscar was created. The Television Academy also added a casting Emmy award in the 1990s, which was last won by the team behind The White Lotus.
Chad Stahelski, the director of John Wick: Chapter 4, has been actively advocating for an Oscar category recognizing the work of stunt performers. He has been in discussions with members of the Academy and has received positive feedback, with both parties expressing a desire for stunts to be recognized at the Oscars. This change is expected to occur in the near future.
The addition of the casting Oscar will increase the total number of awards given to 24.
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The upcoming Academy Awards, scheduled for March 10th, will have top nominations from Oppenheimer, Poor Things, and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Source: theguardian.com
