Casting Directors Who Would Have Been Considered For The Academy Award In 2024

It finally happened! It finally happened! The Academy Awards finally included a category for casting directors!

The best actors are only able to perform at their best alongside a stellar cast.

The best picture would rarely be the best if the whole cast wasn’t amazing.  

But the award doesn’t kick in until 2026, so, as we do every year, we have created the following list so we can tip our hats and give kudos to the casting directors whose projects were nominated for Oscars in the acting, directing, or best picture categories at the 2024 Academy Awards.  

Note: This list includes the local hire casting directors who round out the tapestry of each picture with the vital supporting cast.


96th Academy Awards™ - Honoring Movies Released in 2023 (Presented in 2024)

BEST PICTURE

Jennifer Euston, SJ Alocco (associate), Lisa Lobel (local), Melissa Morris (associate) – American Fiction | Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson

Cynthia Arra, Cynthia Arra (assistant), Marion Thollot (assistant) – Anatomy of the Fall | Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion

Lucy Bevan, Allison Jones, Emily Buntyn (associate), Lucy Downes (assistant), Dann Fink (voice), Olivia Grant (associate) - Barbie | David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Robbie Brenner

Susan Shopmaker, Lisa Lobel (local), Randi Glass (associate), Cici Koueth (assistant), Christian Mallen (assistant), Melissa Morris (associate, Boston) – The Holdovers | Mark Johnson

Ellen Lewis, Elise Buedel (indigenous), Dann Fink (voice), Rene Haynes (indigenous), Malia Hoff (assistant, indigenous), Kate Spance (associate), Grace Ward (assistant), Bruce Winant (voice) – Killers of the Flower Moon | Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Lupi

Shayna Markowitz, Kendall Bates (associate), Dann Fink (voice), Dayna Katz (associate), Leah Shapiro (assistant) - Maestro | Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning, Kristie Macosko Krieger

John Papsidera, Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek (assistant), Barbara Harris (adr), Kim Winther (associate) - Oppenheimer | Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan

Ellen Chenoweth, Susanne Scheel, Cherelle Cargrill (adr), Elizabeth Hay (assistant), Gail Quintos (assistant) – Past Lives | David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler

Dixie Chassey, Katalin Baranyi (Hungary), Elodie Demey (France), Lucy Jordan (assistant), Lucy Smith (assistant) – Poor Things | Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone

Simone Bär, Alexandra Montag, Jacqueline Rietz, Katrin Vorderqülbecke (German) – The Zone of Interest | James Wilson


BEST ACTOR

Shayna Markowitz, Kendall Bates (associate), Dann Fink (voice), Dayna Katz (associate), Leah Shapiro (assistant) – Maestro | Bradley Cooper

Cherelle Cargill, Avy Kaufman, Scotty Anderson (associate), Donna Belajac (regional), Missy Finnell (regional, associate), Brigitte Whitmire (associate) – Rustin | Colman Domingo

Susan Shopmaker, Lisa Lobel (local), Randi Glass (associate), Cici Koueth (assistant), Christian Mallen (assistant), Melissa Morris (associate, Boston) – The Holdovers | Paul Giamatti

John Papsidera, Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek (assistant), Barbara Harris (adr), Kim Winther (associate) – Oppenheimer | Cillian Murphy

Jennifer Euston, SJ Alocco (associate), Lisa Lobel (local), Melissa Morris (associate) – American Fiction | Jeffrey Wright


BEST ACTRESS

Valerie Daniella Oloffson, Avy Kaufman, J.D. Cabrera (assistant), Nathan Francis (assistant), Brigitte Whitmire (associate) - Nyad | Annette Bening

Ellen Lewis, Elise Buedel (indigenous), Dann Fink (voice), Rene Haynes (indigenous), Malia Hoff (assistant, indigenous), Kate Spance (associate), Grace Ward (assistant), Bruce Winant (voice) – Killers of the Flower Moon | Lily Gladstone

Cynthia Arra, Aurélia Hollart (assistant), Marion Thollart (assistant) - Anatomy of a Fall | Sandra Huller

Shayna Markowitz, Kendall Bates (associate), Dann Fink (voice), Dayna Katz (associate), Leah Shapiro (assistant) - Maestro | Carey Mulligan

Dixie Chassey, Katalin Baranyi (Hungary), Elodie Demey (France), Lucy Jordan (assistant), Lucy Smith (assistant) – Poor Things | Emma Stone


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jennifer Euston, SJ Alocco (associate), Lisa Lobel (local), Melissa Morris (associate) – American Fiction | Sterling K Brown

Ellen Lewis, Elise Buedel (indigenous), Dann Fink (voice), Rene Haynes (indigenous), Malia Hoff (assistant, indigenous), Kate Spance (associate), Grace Ward (assistant), Bruce Winant (voice) – Killers of the Flower Moon| Robert De Niro

John Papsidera, Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek (assistant), Barbara Harris (adr), Kim Winther (associate) - Oppenheimer | Robert Downey Jr.

Lucy Bevan, Allison Jones, Emily Buntyn (associate), Lucy Downes (assistant), Dann Fink (voice), Olivia Grant (associate) - Barbie | Ryan Gosling

Dixie Chassey, Katalin Baranyi (Hungary), Elodie Demey (France), Lucy Jordan (assistant), Lucy Smith (assistant) - Poor Things – Mark Ruffalo


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

John Papsidera, Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek (assistant), Barbara Harris (adr), Kim Winther (associate) - Oppenheimer | Emily Blunt

Tiffany Little Canfield, Destiny Lilly, Bernard Telsey, Jade Hardy (assistant), Barbara Harris (voice), Amanda Lockhart (assistant) - The Color Purple | Dannielle Brooks

Lucy Bevan, Allison Jones, Emily Buntyn (associate), Lucy Downes (assistant), Dann Fink (voice), Olivia Grant (associate) - Barbie | America Ferrera

Valerie Daniella Oloffson, Avy Kaufman, J.D. Cabrera (assistant), Nathan Francis (assistant), Brigitte Whitmire (associate) - Nyad | Jodie Foster

Susan Shopmaker, Lisa Lobel (local), Randi Glass (associate), Cici Koueth (assistant), Christian Mallen (assistant), Melissa Morris (associate, Boston) – The Holdovers | Da’Vine Joy Randolph


BEST DIRECTOR

Simone Bär, Alexandra Montag, Jacqueline Rietz, Katrin Vorderqülbecke (German) - The Zone of Interest | Jonathan Glazer

Dixie Chassey, Katalin Baranyi (Hungary), Elodie Demey (France), Lucy Jordan (assistant), Lucy Smith (assistant) – Poor Things | Yorgos Lanthimos

John Papsidera, Daryl Baboulis-Gyscek (assistant), Barbara Harris (adr), Kim Winther (associate) - Oppenheimer | Christopher Nolan

Pauline Hansson, Antoinette Boulat (France), Jessie Frost (UK), Nina Haun (Germany), Patti Lapus (Philippines), Jake Macapagal (Philippines), Dianca Palbuena (Philippines), Ellen Lewis, Elise Buedel (indigenous), Dann Fink (voice), Rene Haynes (indigenous), Malia Hoff (assistant, indigenous), Kate Spance (associate), Grace Ward (assistant), Bruce Winant (voice) – Killers of the Flower Moon | Martin Scorsese


Cynthia Arra, Aurélia Hollart (assistant), Marion Thollart (assistant) – Anatomy of a Fall | Justine Triet

We invite you to watch our free Casting Director Conversation Series with the CDs of many Emmy and Academy Award nominated films & TV series.

Watch our free classes:

How To Become an Actor

and (for the more experienced artists)

How To Revitalize Your Acting Career

Casting Directors Who Would Have Been Considered For The Academy Award In 2023

Wouldn’t it be great if the Academy Awards finally included a category for casting directors?  

The best actors are only able to perform at their best alongside a stellar cast.

The best picture would rarely be the best if the whole cast wasn’t amazing.  

Hence, as we do every year, we have created the following list so we can tip our hats and give kudos to the casting directors whose projects were nominated for Oscars in the acting, directing, or best picture categories at the 2023 Academy Awards.  

Note: This list includes the local hire casting directors who round out the tapestry of each picture with the vital supporting cast.


95th Academy Awards™ - Honoring Movies Released in 2022 (Presented in 2023)

BEST PICTURE

Simon Bar, Constance, Demontoy (France), Arwa Salmanova (Czech Republic) - All Quiet On The Western Front | Malte Grunert

Margery Simkin, Louise Kiely (Ireland) - Avatar: The Way of Water | James Cameron, Jon Landau

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh

Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamian, Beth Day, Liz Ludwitzke - Elvis | Baz Luhrman, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick, Schuyler Weiss

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once | Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang

Cindy Tolan, Nanw Rolands (UK) - The Fabelmans | Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner

Avy Kaufman, Jeremy Zimmerman, Alexandra Montag, Thitiya Tongbai (Southeast Asia), Katrin Vorderqülbecke (for Petra), Jeremy Zimmerman (location) - Tár | Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan, Scott Lambert

Denise Chamian - Top Gun: Maverick | Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison, Jeremy Bruckheimer

Pauline Hansson, Antoinette Boulat (France), Jessie Frost (UK), Nina Haun (Germany), Patti Lapus (Philippines), Jake Macapagal (Philippines), Dianca Palbuena (Philippines), Marta Wojciechowki (Poland), Stefani Tymkiv (Russia) - Triangle of Sadness | Erik Hemmendorff, Phillippe Bober

John Buchan, Jason Knight - Women Talking | Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Frances McDormand


BEST ACTOR

Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamain, Beth Day, Liz Ludwitzke – Elvis | Austin Butler

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Colin Farrell

Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu – The Whale | Brendan Fraser

Lucy Pardee – Aftersun | Paul Mescal

Kahleen Crawford - Living | Bill Nighy


BEST ACTRESS

Avy Kaufman, Jeremy Zimmerman, Alexandra Montag, Thitiya Tongbai (Southeast Asia), Katrin Vorderqülbecke (for Petra), Jeremy Zimmerman (location) - Tár | Cate Blanchett

Victoria Thomas – Blonde | Ana De Armas

Arlie Day - To Leslie | Andrea Riseborough

Cindy Tolan, Nanw Rolands (UK) - The Fabelmans | Michelle Williams

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once | Michelle Yeoh


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Brendan Gleeson

Ellen Chenoweth, Tracy Kilpatrick (location) - Causeway | Brian Tyree Henry

Cindy Tolan, Nanw Rolands (UK) - The Fabelmans | Judd Hirsch

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Barry Keoghan

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once – Ke Huy Quan


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Sarah Fin, Chase Paris (Atlanta) - Wakanda Forever | Angela Bassett

Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu – The Whale | Hong Chau

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Kerry Condon

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once | Jamie Lee Curtis

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once | Stephanie Hsu


BEST DIRECTOR

Louise Kiely - The Banshees of Inisherin | Martin Mcdonagh

Sarah Finn - Everything Everywhere All At Once | Daniel Kwan + Daniel Scheinert

Cindy Tolan, Nanw Rolands (UK) - The Fabelmans | Steven Spielberg

Avy Kaufman, Jeremy Zimmerman, Alexandra Montag, Thitiya Tongbai (Southeast Asia), Katrin Vorderqülbecke (for Petra), Jeremy Zimmerman (location) - Tár | Todd Field

Pauline Hansson, Antoinette Boulat (France), Jessie Frost (UK), Nina Haun (Germany), Patti Lapus (Philippines), Jake Macapagal (Philippines), Dianca Palbuena (Philippines), Marta Wojciechowki (Poland), Stefani Tymkiv (Russia) - Triangle of Sadness | Ruben Östlund

We invite you to watch our free Casting Director Conversation Series with the CDs of many Emmy and Academy Award nominated films & TV series.

This is the second year we get to congratulate one of our previous interview guests, Kahleen Crawford, who cast Living in 2023 with Bill Nighy and the Lost Daughter, in 2022!

Watch our free classes:

How To Become an Actor

and (for the more experienced artists)

How To Revitalize Your Acting Career

Casting Directors Who Would Have Been Considered For The Academy Award In 2022

Wouldn’t it be great if the Academy Awards finally included a category for casting directors?  

The best actors are only able to perform at their best alongside a stellar cast.

The best picture would rarely be the best if the whole cast wasn’t amazing.  

Hence, as we do every year, we have created the following list so we can tip our hats and give kudos to the casting directors whose projects were nominated for Oscars in the acting, directing, or best picture categories at the 2022 Academy Awards.  

Note: This list includes the local hire casting directors who often round out the tapestry of each picture with much of the supporting cast.


94th Academy Awards™ - Honoring Movies Released in 2021 (Presented in 2022)

BEST PICTURE

Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Carla Stronge (CD, N Ireland) (Belfast – Nominees: Lauren Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik, Tamara Thomas)

Deborah Aquila, Tricia Wood, Lisa Zagoria (Coda – Nominees: Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger)

Francine Maisler, Matt Bouldry (local) (Don’t Look Up - Nominees: Adam McKay, Kevin J Messick)

Akiyoshi Imazeki (casting cooperation), Sang-You Lee (korea), Annie Liao (cooperation), Ryoichi Sugiyama (cooperation) (Drive My Car – Nominees: Teruhisa Yamamoto)

Jina Jay, Francine Maisler (Dune – Nominees: Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve, Cale Boyter)

Rich Delia, Avy Kaufman (King Richard – Nominees: Tim White, Trevor White, Will Smith)

Cassandra Kulukundis (Licorice Pizza – Nominees: Sara Murphy, Adam Somner, Paul Thomas Anderson)

Robin D. Cook (Nightmare Alley – Nominees: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Bradley Cooper)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominees: Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Roger Frappier)

Cindy Tolan, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (West Side Story – Nominees: Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger)



BEST ACTOR

Kathy Driscoll, Francine Maisler (Being the Ricardos – Nominee: Javier Bardem)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominee: Benedict Cumberbatch)

Kristian Charbonier, Bernard Telsey  (TICK, TICK… BOOM! – Nominee: Andrew Garfield)

Rich Delia, Avy Kaufman (King Richard – Nominee: Will Smith)

Ellen Chenoweth (The Tragedy of Macbeth – Nominee: Denzel Washington)



BEST ACTRESS

Avy Kaufman, Chase Paris (casting, Atlanta) (The Eyes of Tammy Faye – Nominee: Jessica Chastain)

Kahleen Crawford, Makis Gazis (casting, Greece) (The Lost Daughter – Nominee: Olivia Coleman)

Unlisted (Parallel Mothers – Nominee: Penelope Cruz)

Kathy Driscoll, Francine Maisler (Being the Ricardos – Nominee: Nicole Kidman)

Amy Hubbard, Nina Haun (casting, Germany) (Spencer – Nominee: Kristen Stewart)

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Kahleen Crawford, Makis Gazis (casting, Greece) (The Lost Daughter – Nominee: Jessie Buckley)

Cindy Tolan, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (West Side Story – Nominee: Ariana DeBose)

Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Carla Stronge (CD, N Ireland) (Belfast – Nominee: Judi Dench)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominee: Kristen Dunst)

Rich Delia, Avy Kaufman (King Richard – Nominee: Aunjanue Ellis)



BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Carla Stronge (CD, N Ireland) (Belfast – Nominee: Ciaran Hinds)

Deborah Aquila, Tricia Wood, Lisa Zagoria, Carla Stronge (CD, N Ireland) (Coda – Nominee: Troy Kotsur)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominee: Jesse Plemons)

Kathy Driscoll, Francine Maisler (Being the Ricardos – Nominee: J.K. Simmons)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominee: Kodi Smit-McPhee)



BEST DIRECTOR

Lucy Bevan, Emily Brockmann, Carla Stronge (CD, N Ireland) (Belfast – Nominee: Kenneth Branagh)

Akiyoshi Imazeki (casting cooperation), Sang-You Lee (korea), Annie Liao (cooperation), Ryoichi Sugiyama (cooperation) (Drive My Car – Nominee: Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

Cassandra Kulukundis (Licorice Pizza – Nominee: Paul Thomas Anderson)

Nikki Barrett, Tina Cleary, Carmen Cuba (consultant), Nina Gold, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (Power of the Dog – Nominee: Jane Campion)

Cindy Tolan, Zoraida Sanjurjo Lopez (casting, Puerto Rico) (West Side Story – Nominee: Steven Spielberg)



This list was compiled by the Secret Actor Society

We invite you to watch our free Casting Director Conversation Series with the CDs of many Emmy and Academy Award nominated films & TV series.

This year, we congratulate one of our previous guests, Kahleen Crawford, who cast the Lost Daughter, starring 2022 Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominees Olivia Coleman and Jesse Buckley!

Casting Directors Who Would Have Been Considered For The Oscar In 2021

Wouldn’t it be great if the Academy Awards finally included a category for casting directors?  

Oscars.jpg

The best actors are only able to perform at their best when working alongside a stellar cast and the best picture would rarely be the best if the whole cast wasn’t amazing.  

Hence, as we do every year, we have created the following list so we can tip our hats and give kudos to the casting directors whose projects were nominated for Oscars in the acting, directing, or best picture categories at the 2021 Academy Awards.  

Note: This list includes the local hire casting directors who often round out the tapestry of each picture with much of the supporting cast.

SAS 2020 Favicon.png

93rd Academy Awards™ - Honoring Movies Released in 2020 (Presented in 2021)   

BEST PICTURE

  • Alexa L. Fogel, Donna Belajac (local) (Judas & The Black Messiah - Nominees: Shaka King, Charles D. King, Ryan Coogler) 

  • Laray Mayfield (Mank - Nominees: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Emma Tillinger)

  • Julia Kim, Chris Freihofer (Czech Republic) (Minari - Nominee: Christina Oh)

  • Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu (Promising Young Woman - Nominees: Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara)

  • Susan Shopmaker, Celine De Waele (Belgium), Lisa Lobel (Location) (Sound Of Metal - Nominees: Bert Hamelinck, Sascha Ben Harroche)

  • Francine Maisler (Trial Of The Chicago 7 - Nominees: Marc Platt, Stuart Besser)

  • Hannah Peterson (Location), Nathan Harrison (Location) (Nomadland - Nominees: Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, Chloe Ahao)

  • No CD Credited (The Father - Nominees: David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi, Philippe Carcassonne)


BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Susan Shopmaker, Celine De Waele (Belgium), Lisa Lobel (Location) (Sound Of Metal – Nominee: Riz Ahmed)

  • Avy Kaufman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Nominee: Chadwick Boseman) 

  • Laray Mayfield (Mank - Nominee: Gary Oldman)

  • Julia Kim (Minari - Nominee: Steven Yeun)

  • No CD Credited (The Father - Nominee: Anthony Hopkins)


BEST ACTRESS IN LEADING ROLE

  • Avy Kaufman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - Nominee: Viola Davis)

  • Leah Daniels Butler, Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram, Kevin Scott (The United States vs. Billie Holiday - Nominee: Andra Day) 

  • Jessica Kelly, Bruno Rosato, Kate Yablunovsky (Pieces of a Woman - Nominee: Vanessa Kirby)

  • Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu (Promising Young Woman - Nominee: Carey Mulligan)

  • Hannah Peterson (Location), Nathan Harrison (Location) (Nomadland - Nominee: Frances McDormand)


BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Nancy Bishop, Kris Redding (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American REgime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - Nominee: Maria Bakalova)

  • Carmen Cuba (Hillbilly Elegy - Nominee: Glenn Close)

  • Laray Mayfield (Mank - Nominee: Amanda Seyfried)

  • Julia Kim (Minari - Yuh-Jung Youn)

  • No CD Credited (The Father - Nominee: Olivia Coleman)


BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Francine Maisler (Trial Of The Chicago 7 - Nominee: Sacha Barren Cohen)

  • Alexa L. Fogel (Judas and the Black Messiah - Nominees: Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield)

  • Kim Hardin (One Night In Miami - Nominee: Leslie Odom ,Jr)

  • Susan Shopmaker (Sound of Metal – Nominee: Paul Raci)


BEST DIRECTOR

  • Tanja Grunwald, Jette Termann (Another Round - Nominee: Thomas Vinterberg)

  • Laray Mayfield (Mank - Nominee: David Fincher)

  • Julia Kim (Minari - Nominee: Lee Isaac Chung)

  • Lindsay Graham, Mary Vernieu (Promising Young Woman - Nominee: Emerald Fennell)

  • Hannah Peterson (Location), Nathan Harrison (Location) (Nomadland - Nominee: Chloe Zhao)

This list was compiled by the Secret Actor Society

We invite you to watch our free Casting Director Conversation Series with the CDs of many Emmy and Academy Award nominated films & TV series. Click HERE to sign up.

SAS 2020 Favicon.png

Casting Directors Who Would Have Been Considered For The Oscar In 2016

Wouldn’t it be great if the Academy Awards finally included a category for casting directors?  The best actors are only able to perform at their best with a stellar cast to work alongside, the best picture would rarely be the best if the whole cast wasn’t amazing, and a large portion of a directors job is selecting the right cast.  So… for past few years of Oscars, we have tipped our hats and given kudos to every casting director whose project was nominated for an Oscar for acting, directing, or best picture.  In honor of there being 'no small roles', this years list also includes the local hire casting directors who fill out the tapestry of each picture with much of the supporting cast. Now, let’s check out which CDs would have been in the running this year… for the 2016 Academy Awards!

88th Academy Awards™ 2015 (Presented in 2016)   

BEST PICTURE

Francine Maisler, Kathy Driscoll, Meagan Lewis (NOLA) (The Big Short - Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner) 

Read more

What Defines a Studio Film?

As the name implies, a studio film is partially or wholly financed and/or produced by a film studio. This means that in addition to producers being involved in the decision making processes, studio executives also have a say on things like casting, script changes, and allocation of funds.

By definition, a ‘film studio’ is simply a large production company that has its own hard equity (actual money), and is capable of distributing and advertising its own projects worldwide.

The major studios are Disney, Warner Bros, Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, Fox, and Sony. A ‘mini-major’ is a film studio that produces fewer projects, often works with smaller budgets, and functions on a smaller scale in most areas than the major studios. Mini-major studios include Summit, Revolution, Lakeshore, Lionsgate and the Weinstein Company.

A major studio won’t usually produce or finance films with budgets under $20 million. Most studios have smaller independent arms that make projects with budgets from $6 million to $20 million. The mini majors will also work in the $6 million to $20 million range. You won’t often find a film with a budget lower than $6 million being produced by a studio. A studio may come on board to distribute the film, but it would be rare for them to be involved in the financing or production of a project that small.

Not every film with a budget over $20 million is a studio film; there are some anomalies. For instance, Oliver Stone produced ‘Alexander’ for around $160 million dollars without the backing of a studio. This would therefore be considered an independent film regardless of the size of its budget.