The 160 Hollywood Film Academy casting directors had been advocating for the establishment of this award for many years, marking the first such recognition in nearly a quarter-century.
With just a month remaining before the Oscars and amid Hollywood’s bustling awards season, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the US surprised everyone by announcing the introduction of a new category starting in 2026: Best Ensemble Direction. This award will be open to films released in 2025 and contending for recognition in 2026.
This move represents the first instance in nearly 25 years that the Academy has introduced a new accolade, with the last addition being the Best Animated Feature category in 2001 (won by Shrek in 2002). The inaugural presentation of this honor is set for the 98th edition of the ceremony. In a joint statement, Academy President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer emphasized the indispensable role that ensemble directors play in cinema and expressed pride in adding ensemble direction to the recognized and celebrated disciplines of the Academy.
Comprising approximately 10,500 members, with nearly 400 new members added in 2023, the Academy is structured into 18 categories or branches, including actors, producers, writers, musicians, makeup artists, film executives, actor representatives, and, since July 2013, casting directors. Despite being the smallest branch, with 158 members, casting directors have not had a dedicated award until now. However, the Academy’s statement suggests that they have been lobbying for this category for some time. In another statement, the leaders of the casting direction branch thanked the Academy and its members for their support, characterizing the new award as a well-deserved recognition of the exceptional talent within their ranks and a testament to the branch’s dedication.
Casting directors initially fought for inclusion in the organization and have since pursued the establishment of their own award. The rules for voting and the format of the award ceremony will be announced in April 2025, with the inaugural presentation scheduled for nearly a year later. According to Variety, efforts to secure recognition for casting directors began in the late 1990s, but it took nearly 15 years to establish a dedicated branch within the Academy. Notably, David Rubin, a prominent member, served as secretary and later as director of the Film Academy for three consecutive three-year terms.
The Oscars bestow 23 awards, with the new Best Ensemble Direction category marking the 24th addition. The ceremony, which typically garners between 16 and 20 million viewers annually, does not feature the announcement of all awards during the main event due to its lengthy duration. Whether the new award will be televised, introduced only for the initial years, or retained in the future remains uncertain. Ultimately, viewer satisfaction often hinges on the presentation format, whether it focuses solely on the casting director or extends recognition to the entire ensemble, mirroring practices seen in awards such as the Critics Choice and the Screen Actors Guild, which present highly coveted awards for Best Ensemble.
