Searxng/Best Casting Oscar Films Movie Oscars introduce Best Casting category. With no historical data, a forecaster polls 92 casting directors to predict the first-ever winner. March 31, 2026 AceShowbiz - For years, the Academy Awards have maintained a consistent lineup of categories, with minimal changes since the introduction of the best animated feature in 2001. However, this year marks a significant shift as the Oscars finally introduce a category honoring casting directors.