BERLIN, 5 FEBRUARY 2025 – The International Casting Directors Association (ICDA), in collaboration with the European Film Academy, will host a special event during the Berlinale on 14 February to celebrate the Academy’s introduction of its new European Casting Director Award.
The event, supported by key industry partners Spotlight and Filmmakers Europe, will showcase the crucial role of casting directors in the creative success of films and will begin with a reception, followed by a panel discussion introduced by the CEO and Director of the European Film Academy Matthijs Wouter Knol and ICDA President Lana Veenker.
The Substance director Coralie Fargeat and other industry leaders will share insights on the artistic collaboration between casting directors and filmmakers before Coralie introduces a special screening of The Substance. Led by Demi Moore, The Substance critiques misogyny and the objectification of bodies, with its cast playing an essential role in the film’s critical and awards success, including five Oscar nominations and multiple European Film Awards.
The new European Casting Director Award will debut in January 2026 and aligns with a broader industry trend towards recognising the vital contributions of casting directors as creative collaborators and heads of department. This follows the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ (AMPAS) announcement that a Best Casting category will premiere at the Oscars in 2026. These developments highlight a growing global appreciation for casting as a cornerstone of filmmaking.
For further information please email the ICDA Press Office at press@the-icda.com
