The Casting Directors for the 2025-2026 Awards Season

We are among the first crew members on a project after the script is finished and the director is confirmed, said David Rubin, referring to the men and women responsible for casting films. For the first time ever, these professionals will be recognized with a dedicated Oscar category for Best Casting.

With this category making its debut at the 98th Academy Awards this March, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the role that is essential to bringing a film to life. Our focus was on roughly two dozen casting directors and teams who contributed to some of the most compelling films of the yearranging from major blockbusters and indie gems to international works increasingly prominent in awards discussions.

Their mission is to identify the perfect actors and assemble the ideal ensemble for each project, while our task was to select the standout casting directors and highlight their achievements. Here is our list of those making a significant impact this awards season.

Author: Chloe Ramirez