It’s Official: The First Oscar® Nominees for Achievement in Casting

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 and a defining moment for the industry.

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.

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.”

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.

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

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.” 

Looking Ahead

The 98th Academy Awards® will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

Casting Society congratulates this year’s nominees and looks forward to celebrating casting’s historic inclusion throughout awards season and beyond.