'Sinners’, ‘Zootopia 2’, ‘Jay Kelly’ & ‘Sentimental Value’ win Casting Society Artios Awards

Sinners, Jay Kelly, and Zootopia 2 were some of the top film winners at the Casting Society’s 41st annual Artios Awards, which honor outstanding achievements in casting, hosted with ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. 

Warner Bros’ Sinners, leading the Oscar nominations with a groundbreaking 16 nods, including Best Picture, claimed the Artios award for Big Budget Feature Drama. 

Netflix’s Jay Kelly received recognition as the George Clooney-Adam Sandler film secured the win for Big Budget Feature Comedy. 

Meanwhile, Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia 2, now Hollywood’s top-earning animated film in history, received the Animated Feature award.

Additional film winners leading up to the upcoming Academy Awards next month — which will include the first-ever Oscar for Best Casting — included Sentimental Value, Rental Family, The Fisherman, and Sorry, Baby.

Television winners resembled a roster of Emmy favourites, with major accolades awarded to series such as The Studio, The Pitt, Severance, Adolescence, Hacks, and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Among the live theater award recipients were Buena Vista Social Club and Maybe Happy Ending, which both excelled in the Broadway Musical category; English; and The Importance of Being Earnest, honored with the first-ever Artios London Theatre award.

The Casting Society also bestowed several special honors on Thursday. 

The Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement was presented to Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, who remarked during the L.A. ceremony: “Casting taught me the art of truly seeing people — beyond the first impression, to who they have the potential to become. A hidden gem that makes an impact long after their audition is over. … Casting is both an art form and a form of advocacy.”

Harvey Guillén, from What We Do in the Shadows, served as the host for the Los Angeles ceremony at the Beverly Hilton, while Somebody Somewhere alum Jeff Hiller emceed the event at Manhattan’s Edison Ballroom, and Baby Reindeer Emmy winner Jessica Gunning led the UK celebration at One Moorgate Place.