The Academy has decided that it is necessary to add a new category to the awards and that the great talent they have demonstrated should be shown to the world. Recall that the most recent category was Best Animated Feature, introduced in 2001.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has stated that it will soon begin awarding an Oscar every year to honor the best supporting actors. First announced in 2001, the organization began awarding Best Animated Feature in 2002. This will be the first new Oscar to be introduced, and will be awarded for the first time in 2026.
In a statement issued Thursday, current Academy president Janet Yang and executive director Bill Kramer said:
“Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines we recognize and celebrate. We congratulate the members of our Casting Directors Branch on this exciting milestone and for their commitment and diligence throughout this process.” “We congratulate our Casting Directors Branch members on this exciting milestone and their commitment and diligence throughout this process.”
The Academy reports that the Casting Directors Branch, created in July 2013, consists of approximately 160 members. They will finally be able to honor the best among them, more than ten years later. The full 98th Academy Awards criteria, which include category criteria for eligibility and voting for the inaugural prize, will be released in April 2025. At a later time, the Academy’s administrative leadership and board of governors will decide on the details of the prize presentation.
There was a strong movement to include casting directors in the event back in the late 1990s, which is when the battle for their recognition began. It did not, however, materialize since it was not widely supported at the time. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the creation of this category is necessary for the Oscar?
