The Casting Guild of Australia has today announced the nominees for its annual CGA Awards; the only casting awards ceremony in the southern hemisphere that celebrates and recognises casting across all mediums including film, television, television commercials, theatre, new media and reality. The winners will be announced at the official invite-only award ceremony on November 21 at the Arts Centre, Melbourne.

The Awards seek to acknowledge and support the crucial role casting directors play in bringing together great casting opportunities both on a national and international stage. The Awards are peer-voted, and this year, sponsors were invited to help judge.

CGA President Thea McLeod said: “Congratulations to all the nominees for this year’s Casting Guild of Australia Awards! It’s always such a wonderful time for us all to come together and celebrate the incredible work of casting directors right across the country. A big thank you to our amazing supporters and sponsors. Your generosity makes these celebrations possible every year, and we’re so grateful. The CGA recognise all of our members and the brilliant work they do; their talent and dedication continue to set the standard across our industry. And to all of this year’s nominees, a huge congratulations! We’re so proud of you all and can’t wait to celebrate the creativity, talent and heart that make this community, and our industry, so special.”

The full list of 2025 CGA Award nominees include:

Best Casting in a Feature Film

BETTER MAN Alison Telford and Kate Leonard

BRING HER BACK Nikki Barrett

ONE MORE SHOT Natalie Wall

THE CORRESPONDENT Anousha Zarkesh

Best Casting in a TV Drama

BLACK SNOW SEASON 2 Natalie Wall and Nikki Barrett

MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN SEASON 2 Anousha Zarkes

TERRITORY Anousha Zarkesh

THE NEWSREADER SEASON 3 Nathan Lloyd

Best Casting in a TV Comedy

AUSTIN SEASON 2 Amanda Mitchell

FISK SEASON 3 Kirsty McGregor and Will Pearce

STRIFE SEASON 2 Jane Norris

THE OFFICE Anousha Zarkesh

Best Casting in a Telemovie/TV Miniseries

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Kirsty McGregor

THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH Nikki Barrett

THE SURVIVORS Jane Norris

THOU SHALT NOT STEAL Anousha Zarkesh

Best Casting in a Short Film

BEAR Sarah Price

FINDING ADDISON Faith Martin

SHE LAA’S Ally Reynolds and Ellie Honigman

THEY KILL BY NIGHT Tom McSweeney and David Newman

Achievement in Casting

ECHO: EVERY COLD-HEARTED OXYGEN Rhys Velasquez

INDIGENOUS MENTAL HEALTH Anousha Zarkesh

MONI Marianne Jade

ROBYN’S STORY ‘CRACKS IN THE ICE’ Daniel Berini

Best Casting in a Theatre Production

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTRY Emily David, Kelsey Martin and Chantelle Iemma

BEETLEJUICE: THE MUSICAL  Lisa Campbell

CHAMPIONS Kathryn Courtney-Prior

THE INHERITANCE Daniel Cottier

Best Casting in a TVC – Actor

AFL X ‘160 OF AFL LORE Peta Dermatis and Lauren Mass

DIDI ‘YES I DIDI’ Natalie Harvie

MLA LAMB ‘THE COMMENTS SECTION’ Danny Long

SBS ‘WE GO THERE’ Danny Long

TOYOTA HILUX ‘IN A PICKLE’ Joseph Wijangco and Nick Hamon

PICKLEBET ‘GET YOUR PICKLE ON’ Natalie Harvie

Best Casting in a TVC – Community

ALCOHOL ‘THINK AGAIN’ Daniel Berini

BRAVEHEARTS ‘GROOMING HIDES BEHIND HARMLESS’ Michelle Clancy

FORD RANGER ‘IT TAKES YOU AND A RANGER’ Peta Dermatis and Lauren Mass

GATORADE ‘NO SUGAR’ Peter Rasmussen

MYCAR ‘INTRODUCING THE MYCAR CHARGERS’ Natalie Harvie

QANTAS ‘ALREADY PROUD’ Ally Reynolds and Ellie Honigman

The 2025 CGA Rising Stars will also be presented on the night with recipients set to be announced early November.

For further information about CGA visit: www.castingguild.com.au

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