Casting directors Francine Meiszler (“Sinners”), Nina Gold and Douglas Eibel (“Jay Kelly”) were among the winners of the 41st Casting Society Artios Awards.
The awards ceremony recognizes the year’s top castings in film, television, and theater. Celebrations took place in Los Angeles, New York and London, with “What We Do” star Harvey Gillen officiating at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, “Somebody Somewhere” star Jeff Hiller officiating at New York City’s Edison Ballroom, and “Baby Reindeer” star Jessica Gunning hosting the London ceremony at One Moorgate Place.
On the television side, awards went to the casting directors of “The Pit” (Kathy Sandrich Gelfond, Associate Casting Director: Seth Caskey) and “The Studio” (Melissa Kostenbauder, Francine Meisler, Associate Casting Director: Jesse Haddock).
The Foundry Society also bestowed special honors. The Lynn Starmaster Award for Career Achievement was presented to Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis, the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award was awarded posthumously to casting director and former CSA Secretary Laura Adler, and the Hoyt Bowers Excellence in Casting Award was presented to casting director Julie Ashton. In New York, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was awarded the Marion Doherty New York Apple Award.
In her speech, Davis said, “What I love about casting is that it taught me how to really see people, not just who they walk into the room with, but who they can be. That diamond in the rough that stays with you long after they leave the room.” Your first priority (as a casting executive) is to translate that potential into language that producers and executives can understand, trust, and ultimately believe in. It helps complete the puzzle in a way that enhances the overall story. Because casting is an art…but it’s also advocacy.”
In London, the Global Impact Award was presented to GAP Workshop and the Capelier Show Award for Excellence in Casting was presented to casting director Kate Rose James. Associate Casting Director Spotlight Award winners were presented to Leslie Wasserman in Los Angeles and Dustin Presley in New York.
The full list of winners in the Feature Film and London Theater categories is below.
Feature: Big Budget: Comedy
“Jay Kelly”: Douglas Ibell, Nina Gold, Associate Casting Director: Matthew Glassner, Location Casting Director: Francesco Vedovati, Barbara Giordani
Special Feature: Big Budget: Drama
“Sinners”: Francine Meisler, Associate Casting Director: Molly Rose, Amber Wakefield, Location Casting Director: Megan Lewis
Feature: Animation
“Zootopia 2”: Grace C. Kim
Featured: Studio or Independent Comedy
“Rental Family”: Kei Kawamura
Featured: Studio or Independent: Drama
“Sentimental Value”: Avie Kaufman
Special Feature: International
“Fisherman”: Mauko Kuaji
Featured: Low Budget: Comedy or Drama
“Sorry, Baby”: Jessica Kelly, Location Casting Director: Lisa Lobel, Angela Peri, Location Associate Casting Director: Melissa Morris
Winners in Television (Scripted and Unscripted), Commercial Short Films, and Short Series
Movies first released for television or streaming
“Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy”: Lucy Bevan, Olivia Grant, Associate Casting Director: Lucy Downs
TV Series: Comedy
“Hacks” (S4): Linda Loewy
TV series: Drama
“Severance” (S2): Rachel Tenner, Associate Casting Director: Rick Messina, Location Casting Director: Beth Pfeiffer
TV Pilot and First Season: Comedy
“The Studio”: Melissa Kostenbauder, Francine Meisler, Associate Casting Director: Jesse Haddock
TV Pilot and First Season: Drama
“The Pit”: Kathy Sandrich Gelfond, Associate Casting Director: Seth Caskey
limited series
“Adolescence”: Shaheen Baig
Reality Series: Competition
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (S17): Goroka Bolt, Michelle Redwine, Adam Cooke
Reality Series: Structured and Unstructured
“Queer Eye” (S9): Pamela Varareri, Jessica Jorgensen, Natalie Pino
Live-action kids & family series
“Xo, Kitty” (S2): Lindsay Baldassare, David H. Rapaport, Associate Casting Director: Claire Jenson, Location Casting Director: Sue Kim
animated television programs
“Big Mouth” (S8): Julie Ashton
international tv series
“Other People’s Money” (S1): Alexandra Montag
short series
“Die Hurt” (S3): Chrissy Fiorilli-Ellington, Associate Casting Director: Jane Flowers, Location Casting Director: Tara Feldstein Bennett
short film
“Ad”: Ally Beans
commercial
“Listening is a form of love”: Angela Mickey, Associate Casting Director: Aika Greenidge
theater award winners
Broadway: Comedy or Drama
“English”: Steven Kopel, Associate Casting Director: Sujotta Paice
Broadway: Musical
(tie)
“Buena Vista Social Club”: Xavier Rubiano, Tara Rubin, Associate Casting Director: Frankie Ramirez
“Maybe Happy Ending”: Craig Burns, Associate Casting Director: Jimmy Larkin
New York Theater: Comedy or Drama
“Shut. Meet. Fan”: Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler, Destiny Lilly
New York Theater: Musical
“The Jonathan Larson Project”: Rachel Hoffman, Associate Casting Director: Charlie Hano
london theater
“The Importance of Being Earnest”: Alastair Coomer
Los Angeles Theater
“An Old Friend of Stephen Sondheim”: Tara Rubin, Xavier Rubiano, Peter Van Dam, Associate Casting Director: Luis DiPaolo
regional theater
“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”: Lauren Port, Patrick Goodwin
theater tour
“Parade”: Craig Barnes
special theatrical performance
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Jeff Joselson
