Everyone's a Casting Director – The First-Ever Academy Award for Achievement in Casting with Host Frances McDormand
From The Kitchen Sisters Present by The Kitchen Sisters & Radiotopia
March 4, 2026 · 1h 16m · Episode 281
About this episode
The episode explores the significance of the first-ever Academy Award for Achievement in Casting and highlights the nominees and their contributions to film.
Who discovered Diane Keaton and put her in Annie Hall? Who found Dustin Hoffman and made sure he played Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy? Who saw Jason Schwartzman and made sure Wes Anderson knew about him for Rushmore? Casting Directors, that’s who. When the 98th Oscar ceremony airs on March 15, the first Academy Award for Achievement in Casting will be given in nearly 100 years of Academy history. Five films, laden with stars and fascinating new discoveries, are nominated — Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent and Sinners. The Kitchen Sisters and four-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand take us behind the scenes and into the lives and work of this first-ever batch of nominees and into the mysterious and fascinating world of film casting. Everyone's a Casting Director was produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva) in collaboration with Nathan Dalton and Brandi Howell. Mixed by Jim McKee. Hosted by Frances McDormand.
People in this episode
Host: Frances McDormand
Topics covered
- film casting
- Academy Awards
- casting directors
- Hollywood history
- film industry
- behind the scenes
Keywords
- casting directors
- Academy Award
- film casting
- Frances McDormand
- Hollywood
- Diane Keaton
- Dustin Hoffman
- Jason Schwartzman
- Oscar ceremony
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Kitchen Sisters, Academy Award
Books & works: Annie Hall, Midnight Cowboy, Rushmore, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sinners
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