The first-ever nominees for the Oscar for Best Casting have been announced, and most of the nominees in this category are women.
The Academy’s first casting shortlist included nine out of 10 films with female casting directors. Nominees include Nina Gold (“Hamnet”), Jennifer Venditti (“Marty Supreme”), Cassandra Kurkundis (“One Battle After Another”), Francine Meiszler (“The Sinners”), and Gabriel Dominguez (“The Secret Agent”).
This is the first new category created by the Academy since 2001 for Best Animated Feature Film. The Casting Directors Branch was founded in July 2013 and has nearly 160 members.
Earlier this year, Meisler spoke about adding this category. “I think it’s long overdue for casting directors to be recognized by the Academy with this award,” Meisler said. “The casting director’s contribution is an integral part of the film.”
Meisler also talked about the casting process that led him to find Myles Caton for Sinners. She said, “We were talking to blues clubs in Atlanta, schools, every place you could think of, and any tapes were welcome.”
Speaking to Variety about the casting process and finding Jacobi Jupe for Hamnet, Gold said she met a lot of people, but Jupe was on her radar. He was too young for The Roses, which she was casting at the same time. But he left a lasting impression on her. Also, at one point, when the team was considering casting the twins, Jupe almost didn’t get the role of Hamnet. However, Gold was unable to find the twins. It took five auditions.
Gold described Jupe as “very talented and amazing.” “I’ve met a lot of great young actors, but for Jacobi to be in the right place at the right time at the right age was an incredible stroke of luck…I mean, a blessing.”
The 96th Oscar Awards will be held on Sunday, March 10th.
