The Academy Awards will include a new best casting Oscar starting in 2026, the event's administrators revealed on Thursday.

In almost 20 years, Hollywood's most significant award ceremony will welcome its first competitively introduced golden statuette.

"We are happy to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate as the Academy evolves," a statement from Academy President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer stated. "Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking."

One of the first important staff members to join new film productions are casting directors.

By casting A-list actors and actresses in supporting roles, they have a significant influence on the films that eventually make it to the big screen.For a number of years, there has been a drive to include the yearly category.

Although they haven't been successful yet, stunt performers are also vying for their own Oscar.

The casting award will either be given out during the live Oscars ceremony or not, according to the announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Presently, at the gala, all 23 of the current categories are showcased live.

An attempt to expedite the presentation in 2022 by prerecording some categories with less well-known nominees was met with resistance from the industry and abandoned the following year.

Best animated feature was the final new Oscar to be introduced in 2001.

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