Casting directors including Francine Maisler and Shaheen Baig win Artios Awards for ‘Sinners’, ‘The Studio’ and ‘Adolescence’ at this year’s ceremony.
The Casting Society’s Artios Awards returned last night, Thursday 26 February, to celebrate the craft and vision of casting directors worldwide. In a testament to the industry’s collaborative spirit, ceremonies held in London, New York and Los Angeles brought together the community to honour those responsible for the year’s most compelling performances on screen and stage.
A highlight of the evening was the inauguration of the London Theatre category, reflecting the West End’s status as a global hub for stage excellence – a title claimed by Alastair Coomer for their work on The Importance of Being Earnest.
Multi-award winners of the night included Francine Maisler for Sinners and The Studio, Craig Burns for Maybe Happy Ending and Parade, and the duo of Xavier Rubiano and Tara Rubin for Buena Vista Social Club and Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.
The awards also saw a strong showing for UK-led productions, with Lucy Bevan and Olivia Grant taking home the trophy for Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy and Shaheen Baig once again receiving recognition for Adolescence – further cementing the influence of British casting on the international stage.
The evening also served as a milestone for Kate Rhodes James CDG, CSA, who was presented with The Capelier-Shaw Award for Excellence in Casting – a fitting tribute to a career that has shaped landmark projects like House of the Dragon, Sherlock and Gladiator 2.
In a nod to the industry’s evolving future, Lucy Allen and Tom Payne received The Global Impact Award. Their work with GAP Workshops was recognised for its contribution to inclusivity, providing vital pathways for trans actors in screen work.
Full List of 2026 Artios Award Winners:
Feature: Big Budget Comedy
- Jay Kelly – Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold, Associate Casting Director: Matthew Glasner, Location Casting Directors: Francesco Vedovati, Barbara Giordani
Feature: Big Budget Drama
- Sinners – Francine Maisler, Associate Casting Directors: Molly Rose, Amber Wakefield, Location Casting Director: Meagan Lewis
Feature: Animated
- Zootopia 2 – Grace C. Kim
Feature: Studio or Independent Comedy
- Rental Family – Kei Kawamura
Feature: Studio or Independent Drama
- Sentimental Value – Avy Kaufman
Feature: International
- The Fisherman – Mawuko Kuadzi
Feature: Low Budget Comedy or Drama
- Sorry, Baby – Jessica Kelly, Location Casting Directors: Lisa Lobel, Angela Peri, Location Associate Casting Director: Melissa Morris
London Theatre
- The Importance of Being Earnest – Alastair Coomer
Film, First Released For Television Or Streaming
- Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy – Lucy Bevan, Olivia Grant, Associate Casting Director: Lucy Downes
Television Series: Comedy
- Hacks (S4) – Linda Lowy
Television Series: Drama
- Severance (S2) – Rachel Tenner, Associate Casting Director: Rick Messina, Location Casting Director: Bess Fifer
Television Pilot And First Season: Comedy
- The Studio – Melissa Kostenbauder, Francine Maisler, Associate Casting Director: Jesse Haddock
Television Pilot And First Season: Drama
- The Pitt – Cathy Sandrich Gelfond, Associate Casting Director: Seth Caskey
Limited Series
- Adolescence – Shaheen Baig
Reality Series: Competition
- RuPaul’s Drag Race (S17) – Goloka Bolte, Michelle Redwine, Adam Cook
Reality Series: Structured & Unstructured
- Queer Eye (S9): Pamela Vallarelli, Jessica Jorgensen, Natalie Pino
Live Action Children & Family Series
- XO, Kitty (S2) – Lyndsey Baldasare, David H. Rapaport, Associate Casting Director: Claire Yenson, Location Casting Director: Su Kim
Animated Program For Television
- Big Mouth (S8) – Julie Ashton
International Television Series
- Other People’s Money (S1) – Alexandra Montag
Broadway: Comedy or Drama
- English – Stephen Kopel, Associate Casting Director: Sujotta Pace
Broadway: Musical
(TIE)
- Buena Vista Social Club: Xavier Rubiano, Tara Rubin, Associate Casting Director: Frankie Ramirez
- Maybe Happy Ending: Craig Burns, Associate Casting Director: Jimmy Larkin
New York Theater: Comedy or Drama
- Sh!t. Meet. Fan – Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler, Destiny Lilly
New York Theater: Musical
- The Jonathan Larson Project – Rachel Hoffman, Associate Casting Director: Charlie Hano
Los Angeles Theater
- Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends – Tara Rubin, Xavier Rubiano, Peter Van Dam, Associate Casting Director: Louis DiPaolo
Regional Theater
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – Lauren Port, Patrick Goodwin
Theater Tours
- Parade – Craig Burns
Special Theatrical Performance
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Geoff Josselson
Short Form Series
- Die Hart (S3) – Chrissy Fiorilli-Ellington, Associate Casting Director: Jane Flowers, Location Casting Director: Tara Feldstein Bennett
Short Film
- Ado – Ally Beans
Commercials
- Listening Is a Form of Love – Angela Mickey, Associate Casting Director: Aika Greenidge
Honourees
- The Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement – Ayo Davis
- The Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award – Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
- The Hoyt Bowers Award – Julie Ashton, CSA
- The Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award – Laura Adler, CSA
- The Capelier-Shaw Award for Excellence in Casting – Kate Rhodes James, CSA
- The Global Impact Award – GAP Workshops (Lucy Allen and Tom Payne)
- The Los Angeles Associate Spotlight Award – Leslie Wasserman, CSA
- The New York Associate Spotlight Award – Dustin Presley, CSA
Congratulations to all of the winners at the Artios Awards for their achievements in casting this year!
Take a look at our website for more awards news and industry advice.
