Cassandra Kulukundis makes history as first-ever Oscar winner for casting, shining spotlight on unsung heroes of cinema

The 98th Academy Awards made history on Sunday as Cassandra Kulukundis became the first-ever winner of the Academy Award for casting, a new category introduced for the first time in the last two decades.

The award recognizes the critical yet often overlooked role casting directors play in shaping the success of a film.

Kulukundis earned the honor for her work on Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, joining a roster of inaugural nominees that included Francine Maisler (Sinners), Nina Gold (Hamnet), Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme), and Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent).


In her acceptance speech, Kulukundis paid tribute to the many casting directors who paved the way but never had the chance to be acknowledged on the Oscars stage.

She said, "I have to thank the Academy for even adding this category and for the casting directors who fought tirelessly to make it happen despite everything in their way. I dedicate this to you and to the casting directors who never got a chance to get up here, who didn’t even get a chance to get their name on the movie. So to you guys.”

The ceremony highlighted the milestone with a unique presentation segment. Five actors representing the nominated films, Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Gwyneth Paltrow (Marty Supreme), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), and Delroy Lindo (Sinners), joined together to present the award. Each took a moment to praise the creative work of the casting directors before the historic announcement.

She concluded, according to the Filmfare website, "The truth is, no one knows what we do. They don’t understand it. We’re in this weird dungeon all by ourselves. It is an art, and it’s also a science, because we have to deal with DNA, and I take it super seriously."

The first-ever Casting Oscar not only honors behind-the-scenes talent but also underscores the Academy’s growing recognition of the collaborative artistry that goes into making a film.