Academy Introduces New Casting Category at Oscars: Female Casting Directors Shine in Inaugural Nominees
The Academy has introduced a new category for the achievement in casting at the Oscars, with the first-ever nominees announced. The majority of the nominees in this category are women, with nine out of the ten films having female casting directors. Some of the nominees include Nina Gold for “Hamnet,” Jennifer Venditti for “Marty Supreme,” Cassandra Kulukundis for “One Battle after Another,” Francine Maisler for “Sinners,” and Gabriel Domingues for “The Secret Agent.”
This new casting category is the first to be created by the Academy since 2001 for best animated feature film. The Casting Directors Branch, established in July 2013, consists of nearly 160 members. Francine Maisler, one of the nominees, expressed her belief that the recognition of casting directors by the Academy is long overdue, emphasizing the significant contribution they make to a film.
Discussing her casting process for “Sinners,” Maisler mentioned the extensive search they conducted to find the right actor, Miles Caton. Similarly, Nina Gold shared her experience of casting Jacobi Jupe for “Hamnet,” highlighting the actor's talent and the multiple auditions he went through to secure the role. The Oscars ceremony, where the winners will be announced, is scheduled for Sunday, March 10.