by FilmInk Staff
2026 Casting Guild of Australia Award Nominees Revealed
The Casting Guild of Australia has today announced the nominees for the 2026 CGA Awards. The winners will be announced at the official invite-only award ceremony on Friday November 27 at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, hosted by beloved Australian performers Joel Creasey and Kat Stewart.
The CGA seeks to acknowledge and support the crucial role casting directors play in bringing together great casting opportunities both on a national and international stage. The CGA Awards are 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.
CGA President Thea McLeod said: “The CGA is so proud of our members and the wonderful work they do. Thank you so much to everyone who submitted this year, it’s incredible to see the quality and range of work put forward. A huge congratulations to all of our nominees! There is so much heart, care and creativity that goes into casting, and these nominations recognise the dedication and talent behind that work. Our nominees should feel very proud of what they’ve achieved. It’s wonderful to see their work recognised, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone!”
The full list of 2026 CGA Award nominees include:
Achievement in Casting
- THE PEOPLE VS ROBODEBT – Anousha Zarkesh
- FACING THE NUMBERS – Daniel Berini
- HOMEBODIES – Danny Long & Ryan Madden
- THE HAIRY MARYS – Sarah Price
Best Casting in a Feature Film
- BOSS CAT – Anousha Zarkesh
- WOLFRAM – Anousha Zarkesh
- LEVITICUS – Nikki Barrett
- THE FOX – Nikki Barrett
Best Casting in a TV Miniseries / Telemovie
- THE KILLINGS AT PARRISH STATION – Anousha Zarkesh
- DALLIANCE – Kirsty McGregor
- GOOLAGONG – Nathan Lloyd
- MY BRILLIANT CAREER – Nikki Barrett
Best Casting in a Short Film
- SOUVENIR – Danny Long
- SAINT VALENTINE – Danny Long
- NOTE FROM A GUTTER BOY – Georgia Rickards
- THE WORM – Natalie Wall
Best Casting in a Theatre Production
- THE SHEPHERD’S HUT – Chantelle Iemma
- FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – Daisy Hicks & Serena Hill
- EQUUS – Daniel Cottier
- RETROGRADE – Janine Snape
Best Casting in a TV Comedy
- DEADLOCH SEASON 2 – Alison Telford & Kate Leonard
- DOG PARK – Alison Telford & Kate Leonard
- GHOSTS: AUSTRALIA – Marianne Jade
- COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS SEASON 3 – Kirsty McGregor & Stevie Ray
Best Casting in a TV Drama
- TREASURE & DIRT – Anousha Zarkesh
- THE AIRPORT CHAPLAIN – Jane Norris
- THE F WARD – Kirsty McGregor & Stevie Ray
- HIGH COUNTRY: WHAT LIES BENEATH – Nathan Lloyd
Best Casting in a TVC
- STAN ‘ENTER THE CHAT’ – Danny Long
- ABC IVIEW ‘WE’VE GOT A STORY FOR YOU’ – Danny Long
- AUDIBLE ‘STORIES THAT SPEAK TO YOU’ – Daniel Berini
- OPTUS ‘THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY’ – Natalie Jane Harvie
- MLC ‘THE HEIST’ – Natalie Jane Harvie
- GWM ‘BE MORE TANK’ – Peta Dermatis
Best Casting in a TVC Community
- MY KIND OF WOOLIES – Daniel Berini
- COLGATE ‘JUSTIN’S STORY – SMILE STRONG’ – Natalie Jane Harvie & Gigi-Monique Diaz
- SEASOL ‘DIRTY OLD SECRETS’ – Natalie Jane Harvie
- LIFEBLOOD ‘THE UNLIKELY VERSION’ – Peta Dermatis
- KITKAT ‘F1 SUPERFAN’ – Stephanie Pringle and Alison Fowler
- NAATI X SBS ‘WE ALL DESERVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD’ – Stevie Ray
The 2026 CGA Rising Stars will also be presented on the night with recipients set to be announced in mid-November.
For further information about CGA visit: www.castingguild.com.au.
Image: Anousha Zarkesh winning at the 2025 CGA Awards
