Oscars Debut Casting Award: Who Made the Cut?

The Academy Awards have unveiled a new trophy for Achievement in Casting, a category debuting for the first time since the Animated Feature award was established in 2002. This inaugural award will be followed by a Best Stunts Oscar in 2028, expanding the Academy's recognition of cinematic crafts.

The first five nominees for the Casting Oscar exclusively feature films also nominated for Best Picture. These selections highlight the varied and challenging work of casting directors, including the discovery of young talent, the integration of non-professional actors for authentic performances, and the complex task of finding performers with specific skills like musicality or period-appropriate dialogue.

This new award category recognizes the distinct contributions of casting directors, distinguishing their work from ensemble awards. The "bake-off" process, where shortlisted films present their casting strategies, was noted as successful in educating Academy members on the intricacies of the casting process and the strategic decisions involved in assembling a film's cast.