The 98th Academy Awards marked a significant milestone with the introduction of a new category recognizing excellence in casting. Cassandra Kulukundis became the inaugural recipient of the Oscar for Best Casting for her work on the film “One Battle After Another.”
In her acceptance speech, Kulukundis highlighted the importance of this recognition for casting directors, stating, “I dedicate this award to the casting directors who never had the chance to be here.” She expressed gratitude to director Paul Thomas Anderson, noting their shared journey in the industry.
Kulukundis began her career as an intern on Anderson’s film “The Hateful Eight,” which also featured in the current award-winning project. The cast of “One Battle After Another” includes prominent actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, Taylour Paige, Chase Infinite, and Regina Hall.
In addition to her recent accolade, Kulukundis has served as the casting director for several notable films, including “Her,” “Phantom Thread,” and “Brutalist,” as well as the 2021 remake of the series “Gossip Girl.”
- Oscar 2026: Complete List of Winners
This year’s nominees for the casting award included four female casting directors and one male director:
- “Hamnet” — Nina Gold;
- “Marty Supreme: The Genius of Combinations” — Jennifer Venditti;
- “The Sinners” — Francine Maisler;
- “Secret Agent” — Gabriel Dominguez.
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The introduction of the Best Casting award at the Oscars recognizes the vital role of casting directors in film production. Cassandra Kulukundis, the first recipient, emphasized the importance of this acknowledgment in her acceptance speech.