The Oscars are making changes with the 98th Academy Awards ceremony adding the Academy Award for Achievement in Casting.

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the announcement today. Achievement in Casting will start being awarded with the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025. It’s just a matter of time before the Oscars will rightfully honor stunt ensembles like the SAG Awards. If we’re lucky, the Academy will be adding this award within the next few years. After that, maybe–just maybe–they’ll issue one for Best Comedy, too.

“Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “We congratulate our Casting Directors Branch members on this exciting milestone and for their commitment and diligence throughout this process.”

“On behalf of the members of the Casting Directors Branch, we’d like to thank the Board of Governors, the Awards Committee and Academy leadership for their support. This award is a deserved acknowledgment of our casting directors’ exceptional talents and a testament to the dedicated efforts of our branch,” said Academy Casting Directors Branch governors Richard Hicks, Kim Taylor-Coleman and Debra Zane.

Category rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural award will be announced in April 2025 with the complete 98th Academy Awards Rules. The specifics of the award’s presentation will be determined by the Academy’s Board of Governors and its administrative leadership at a future date.

The Casting Directors Branch was created in July 2013. There are currently nearly 160 members of the branch.

Best Animated Feature Film was the most recent category established, having been established in 2001.

The 98th Academy Awards will be held in 2026.

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