Anousha Zarkesh won a record-breaking four categories at this year’s Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) Awards on Friday, including her second consecutive Best Casting in a Feature Film prize for We Are Still Here.
The CGA vice president had seven nominations across six categories, also triumphing in Best Casting in a TV Comedy for Preppers, Best Casting in a Tele Movie/Miniseries for Bali 2002, and Achievement in Casting.
Other winners on the night included Amanda Mitchell, who was awarded Best Casting in a TV Drama for her work on Heartbreak High, while Tom McSweeny and David Newman took out Best Casting in a Short Film for The Moths Will Eat Them Up.
First-time nominees Lisa Campbell and Mathew Waters walked away with the gongs for Best Casting in a Theatre Production and Best Casting in a TVC, respectively.
Campbell was recognised for Moulin Rouge! The Musical, with Waters winning for his work on SBS’s We All Speak campaign.
Elsewhere, Nick Hamon and Amy Mete secured the top prize in Best Casting in a TVC – Community for the R U OK? campaign.
As part of the ceremony — hosted by Julia Morris and Nazeem Hussain — the CGA also officially crowned its Rising Stars for 2022, with this year’s contingent comprising Christopher Bunton,Hattie Hook, James Majoos, Mabel Li, Maggie (Max) McKenna, Michelle Lim Davidson, Sana’a Shaik, Shaka Cook, Steph Tisdell, and Tuuli Narkle.
The full winners’ list is as follows:
Best Casting in a Feature Film
We Are Still Here – Anousha Zarkesh
Best Casting in a TV Drama
Heartbreak High – Amanda Mitchell
Best Casting in a TV Comedy
Preppers – Anousha Zarkesh
Best Casting in a Telemovie/TV Miniseries
Bali 2002 – Anousha Zarkesh
Best Casting in a Short Film
The Moths Will Eat Them Up – Tom McSweeney, David Newman
Best Casting in a Theatre Production
Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Lisa Campbell
Best Casting in a TVC
SBS “We All Speak” – Mathew Waters
Best Casting in a TVC – Community
R U OK? – Nick Hamon, Amy Mete
Achievement in Casting
The Australia Wars – Anousha Zarkesh