Did You Know? The 2026 Oscars Launched a New Category for the First Time in 23 Years

In a male-dominated film industry, casting is one of the few fields composed of more women. Casting teams and directors are responsible for launching new careers and bringing out the potential of existing movie stars, allowing audiences to see them like never before. Despite their vital role in bringing these stories to life, the field remains mostly invisible to the average moviegoer, which is why the introduction of a Best Casting category at the Academy Awards marks a major milestone.

The branch of casting directors was first added to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013. In 2024, the Academy finally unveiled its plans for the new category. Further expanding its commitment to recognizing the various creative endeavors behind the films we now enjoy, the Academy will also introduce the Achievement in Stunt Design category in 2028.

For the inaugural Best Casting award, five nominees were announced. Namely:

• Francine Maisler - Sinners

• Nina Gold - Hamnet

• Cassandra Kulukundis - One Battle After Another

• Jennifer Venditti - Marty Supreme

• Gabriel Domingues - The Secret Agent

Cassandra brought home the bacon for her work on the film, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, among other actors.

The film received 13 nominations, six of which it won. Along with Best Casting, it also took home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

One Battle After Another is Cassandra’s 10th film with director Paul Thomas Anderson. When asked in the press room why she remains in pursuit of exceptional casting, Cassandra pointed to “authenticity.” She expounded, “That’s what life is, isn’t it? I looked out in that sea of people there. There’s actors, there’s behind-the-scenes people, and everyone has a story to tell—and we want to tell that story.”