It’s Official: The First Oscar Nominees for Achievement in Casting
- Details
- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Thursday, 22 January 2026 11:18
- Written by A&E Contributing Editor
This morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards®, including the first-ever nominees for the Oscar® for Outstanding Achievement in Casting—a historic milestone for the casting profession.
This milestone signifies more than just the addition of a new category; it symbolizes years of advocacy and progress in acknowledging casting as an essential creative discipline in filmmaking. For decades, casting directors have influenced performances, assembled ensembles, and shaped storytelling through their creative insight and judgment—often working behind the scenes. Now, casting is fully integrated into the Academy's awards recognition, emphasizing the crucial role casting plays in the overall creative process.
98TH Oscars® Nominations Announced
As CSA President Destiny Lilly shared, "This is the moment Casting Society's founders dreamed of —one that reflects decades of work to elevate the craft of casting as an essential creative and artistic force in filmmaking. Many of those who helped build CSA have passed on, and we honor their legacy by celebrating this historic, long-awaited milestone for our craft. Congratulations to our incredible colleagues Nina Gold, Jennifer Venditti, Cassandra Kulukundis, Gabriel Domingues, and Francine Maisler."
On February 26, Casting Society will host the 41st Annual Artios Awards honoring the contributions of casting professionals in film, television (both scripted and unscripted), short films, commercials, and theater. Additionally, special honorees are chosen for their contributions to the craft. Nominees and winners are selected by members of the Casting Society.
As the Casting category enters its inaugural year as part of the 98th Academy Awards®, Casting Society celebrates the nominated films and the casting teams whose work has been recognized at the highest level of the industry. This recognition is not only a celebration of excellence, but a long-overdue acknowledgment of casting as a core creative discipline that shapes character, story, and the collaborative heart of filmmaking.
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Oscar® for Outstanding Achievement in Casting Nominees
The following five films have been nominated for the Oscar® for Outstanding Achievement in Casting for the 98th Academy Awards®. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by title:
Hamnet
Casting: Nina Gold, CSA
Marty Supreme
Casting: Jennifer Venditti, CSA
One Battle After Another
Casting: Cassandra Kulukundis
The Secret Agent
Casting: Gabriel Domingues
Sinners
Casting: Francine Maisler, CSA
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Recognizing the Work Behind the Work
Casting is both an art and a craft—requiring creative vision, deep collaboration, and an extraordinary understanding of story, character, and performance. The establishment of this category acknowledges the scope and influence casting directors have in shaping the filmmaking process and affirms their role as essential creative partners.
Casting Society extends its appreciation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Board of Governors, and especially the Casting Directors Branch Governors, whose leadership and advocacy helped bring this long-overdue recognition to life. As Destiny Lilly noted, "Today, we recognize not only the nominees, but the impact casting continues to have on storytelling, performance, and the artistry at the center of filmmaking."
