AceShowbiz - The 41st annual Artios Awards, hosted by the Casting Society, celebrated outstanding achievements in casting across film, television, theater, commercials, and short form projects. The ceremonies took place simultaneously in Los Angeles, New York, and London on Thursday, honoring casting directors for their exceptional work in various categories.

Among the feature film winners, Jay Kelly secured the award for Big Budget Feature Comedy, while Sinners captured the prize for Big Budget Feature Drama. The Animated Feature category went to Zootopia 2, marking a significant shift from previous awards where titles like “One Battle After Another” and “KPop Demon Hunters” had dominated narrative and animated distinctions.

Additional feature film winners included Rental Family, which triumphed in the Studio or Independent Feature Comedy category. The Studio or Independent Feature Drama award was earned by Sentimental Value. The Low Budget Feature Comedy or Drama category recognized Sorry, Baby, and the Feature: International award was given to The Fisherman.

The television categories highlighted first-year series such as The Pitt and The Studio, alongside limited series like Adolescence. Established shows including Hacks, Severance, and the TV movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy also received recognition for their casting achievements.

Beyond film and television, the Casting Society honored excellence in short form, commercial, and theater casting. The Los Angeles ceremony, held at the Beverly Hilton, was hosted by Harvey Guillén and featured special awards presentations. The Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement was awarded to Ayo Davis. Julie Ashton received the Hoyt Bowers Award for Excellence in Casting, and the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award was posthumously presented to Laura Adler.

In New York, Jeff Hiller hosted the event at the Edison Ballroom, where the Marion Dougherty New York Apple Award was presented to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Meanwhile, Jessica Gunning led the London ceremony at One Moorgate Place. Honorary awards there included the Global Impact Award, given to GAP Workshops, and the Capelier-Shaw Award for Excellence in Casting, presented to Kate Rhodes James.

The complete list of feature film winners highlights the key casting professionals behind the honored projects. For Jay Kelly, casting directors Douglas Aibel and Nina Gold led the team, with Matthew Glasner as Associate Casting Director and Francesco Vedovati and Barbara Giordani handling location casting. Sinners was cast by Francine Maisler, with Molly Rose and Amber Wakefield as Associate Casting Directors and Meagan Lewis as Location Casting Director. The Animated Feature winner, Zootopia 2, credited Grace C. Kim for casting.

Other notable film casting teams included Kei Kawamura for Rental Family, Avy Kaufman for Sentimental Value, Mawuko Kuadzi for The Fisherman, and Jessica Kelly with Lisa Lobel, Angela Peri, and Melissa Morris for Sorry, Baby.

In television and streaming categories, the film first released for television or streaming award went to Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, cast by Lucy Bevan and Olivia Grant, with Lucy Downes as Associate Casting Director. The Television Series Comedy category honored Hacks (Season 4), cast by Linda Lowy. Severance (Season 2) won for Television Series Drama, with Rachel Tenner as casting director supported by Associate Rick Messina and Location Casting Director Bess Fifer.

Television pilots and first seasons received recognition as well. The Studio won for Comedy, cast by Melissa Kostenbauder and Francine Maisler, with Jesse Haddock as Associate Casting Director. The Drama category for first seasons was awarded to The Pitt, cast by Cathy Sandrich Gelfond and Associate Seth Caskey. The limited series award went to Adolescence, cast by Shaheen Baig.

Reality series winners included RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 17) for competition reality, cast by Goloka Bolte, Michelle Redwine, and Adam Cook, while Queer Eye (Season 9) won structured and unstructured reality, cast by Pamela Vallarelli, Jessica Jorgensen, and Natalie Pino. The live-action children and family series category honored XO, Kitty (Season 2), with Lyndsey Baldasare, David H. Rapaport, Claire Yenson, and Su Kim credited.

Animated television was represented by Big Mouth (Season 8), cast by Julie Ashton. The International Television Series award went to Other People’s Money (Season 1) with Alexandra Montag as casting director. Short form series Die Hart (Season 3) was honored for casting by Chrissy Fiorilli-Ellington, Jane Flowers, and Tara Feldstein Bennett. Short film casting recognized Ally Beans for Ado, and the Commercials category awarded Angela Mickey and Aika Greenidge for “Listening Is a Form of Love.”

Theater casting was also celebrated across multiple categories. Broadway Comedy or Drama honored English with Stephen Kopel and Sujotta Pace. Broadway Musical resulted in a tie between Buena Vista Social Club, cast by Xavier Rubiano, Tara Rubin, and Frankie Ramirez, and Maybe Happy Ending, cast by Craig Burns and Jimmy Larkin.

New York theater recognized Sh¡t. Meet. Fan for Comedy or Drama, cast by Bernard Telsey, Will Cantler, and Destiny Lilly, and The Jonathan Larson Project for Musical, cast by Rachel Hoffman and Charlie Hano. London theater’s new category awarded The Importance of Being Earnest with Alastair Coomer recognized for casting.

Los Angeles theater awarded casting for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends to Tara Rubin, Xavier Rubiano, Peter Van Dam, and Louis DiPaolo. Regional theater honors went to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil with Lauren Port and Patrick Goodwin credited. Theater tours recognized Parade cast by Craig Burns, while special theatrical performance awards were given to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with casting by Geoff Josselson.

The 41st Artios Awards reaffirmed the critical role casting directors play in shaping compelling stories across all entertainment platforms. These ceremonies not only recognized popular and emerging projects but also highlighted the artistry and collaboration behind the scenes that bring characters to life.