PHASE ONE: THEATER, TELEVISION, COMMERCIALS, SHORT FILM & SHORT FORM SERIES

General Rules

  • The CSA Board of Directors has final say on all decisions related to the Artios Awards.

  • If a CSA member disagrees with a determination from the vetters during vetting of their submission(s), they can appeal to the Artios Executive Committee. They should alert CSA staff of the desire to appeal the decision. This must be done via email to info@castingsociety.com and this must be done before vetting concludes on August 28, 2026.

  • The Artios Executive Committee will be made up of CSA members who represent Film, Television, Theater, Unscripted, and the Global communities. They will review any discrepancy or issue that arises during vetting. 

    • If a CSA member disagrees with a determination from the Artios Executive Committee during vetting of their submission(s), they can appeal to the CSA Board of Directors. They should alert CSA staff of the desire to appeal the decision. This must be done via email to info@castingsociety.com and this must be done before vetting concludes on August 28, 2026.

    • The CSA Board of Directors will have final authority on decisions if the Executive Committee decision is appealed. 

  • The Artios committee in conjunction with the Board of Directors is responsible for the creative content and physical production of the Los Angeles, New York, and London shows.
  • The CSA Board of Directors reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies in its respective category and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

     

  • A Cast List that best represents the member’s work on the project must be submitted for all categories.  

    • The Cast List should represent the creative scope of your work on the project 

    • If someone came attached to the project, note that on the Cast List 

    • PDF Cast Lists should include the Cast Member’s name and their role, at a minimum. Pictures are welcome but not required.  

    • Please also include an IMDbPro link on your submission

      • The CSA Board of Directors is aware that some unscripted shows and theater productions may not have all of their cast on IMDbPro. This is okay, this is why we ask for a PDF cast list as well

    • To note: the Cast List should not include any confidential information

  • All projects must have aired, premiered, been widely released, or opened, unless a special designation has been made, between June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 for all Phase 1 categories.

  • Television programs which are not primarily in the English language (over 50% of dialogue in a language other than English) and/or their majority production company is based outside of the USA fall into the International Television Series category. 

  • English language projects not released on a global platform and/or are not available to be viewed in the USA fall into the International Television Series category.

  • International Television Series projects do not require USA distribution or viewing. Having USA distribution or options to view does not disqualify projects in this category as long as the primary language spoken in the project is something other than English. 

  • English language projects originating outside of the USA that receive distribution within the USA are not eligible for the International Television Series category and should go into another appropriate category. 

  • Theater projects must have opened in the USA or London (depending on the category), unless a special designation has been made, June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026.

  • At least 51% of a television season’s episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. If exactly 50% have aired / streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted once, in the first year it was eligible. For clarity, a television series with exactly 50% of episodes out during two eligibility windows cannot be submitted in the second year’s eligibility window.

  • If a season of a program spans 3 eligibility windows (example, some episodes air during the 2025 eligibility window, some for 2026, and some for 2027), then the window that will air the MOST episodes, even if it’s not 51%, should be the year it’s submitted for and the 51% rule would not apply.

  • If multiple seasons of a television program both vet during the eligibility period, they must be submitted as two separate submissions. 

  • Reunion episodes should be included for episode count in calculating the 51% of aired episodes tally. 

  • For television projects in their second season and beyond, an “Original Casting By” credit is not required to be on the ballot.

  • If the Casting Team for an unscripted program has a CSA member being credited with the following titles, they are eligible for nomination: 

    • Casting By, Executive in Charge of Casting, Supervising Casting Director, Supervising Casting Producer, Senior Casting Director, Casting Director, Celebrity Casting By

    • Senior Casting Producer, Casting Producer

       

  • You must be a Casting Director, Executive, or an Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer member of CSA in active status as of July 15, 2026 in order to submit a project for an Artios Award – or remain on a submission for an Artios Award – or to vote for the Artios Awards. Your membership with CSA must be activated and dues currently paid in order to submit via the Artios platform.

  • Active Status is defined as being fully paid on your dues for the current fiscal year, which begins every year on July 1. Members on payment plans who have made on-time payments are also considered active. If a member on a payment plan misses a payment, they will automatically be disqualified from eligibility, removed from a ballot if they became a nominee, and/or have the award revoked. 

  • For the 2027 Artios Awards, you must be in Active Status by July 15, 2026.

  • You must remain as a member in Active Status to stay eligible for an Artios Award and/or win an Artios Award. If you leave CSA or become delinquent on your dues payment plan, the Board of Directors has the right to disqualify your submission / nomination / win. 

  • If you wish to reactivate your membership after the July 15, 2026 deadline, and you are currently an inactive CSA member, on honorary withdrawal, or delinquent in paying your dues, please contact CSA Staff at info@castingsociety.com 

    In addition to any outstanding dues, a reactivation administrative rush processing fee will apply. Members will be responsible for dues for the remainder of the fiscal year, and payment plans will not be available. 

    • Lapsed CSA members looking to become an Active Status member after the July 15, 2026 cutoff date to become eligible to be on a nomination, must pay a $75 reactivation administrative rush fee. 

    • Members whose membership is reactivated after July 15, 2026 may be added to an eligible project that was submitted during the applicable submission period, provided all other eligibility requirements are met. Reactivation does not permit the submission of new projects after the published submission deadlines.

    • In order to be placed on a ballot, you must reactivate your membership before vetting concludes on August 28, 2026.

  • The Lead Casting Director of a project must submit the project for Artios Consideration via our submissions website.

    • “Lead Casting Director” means the people credited as “Casting By” on screen in the Main Titles or the Title Page of a Playbill. 

    • If the project has no main titles at all, or casting is not included in them, please contact info@castingsociety.com to determine eligibility.

  • CSA Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer members are to be included by the CSA Casting Director submitting the project(s) that the CSA Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer worked on. CSA Associate Casting Directors/Casting Producer who did not receive screen credit are eligible for inclusion and the Casting Director should include them regardless of whether or not screen credit was received if the Casting Director feels credit is warranted.

  • A CSA Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer can be eligible to be on the Artios ballot if they don’t receive onscreen credit but do receive credit on IMDb. 

  • CSA Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer members MAY submit their project(s) if they are credited as the Casting Director of said project(s). To submit, contact CSA Admin via email at info@castingsociety.com and staff will guide you in how to submit the project. If the project was co-Cast with a Casting Director member of CSA, then the project must be submitted by that Casting Director.

  • Studio Casting Directors who are a CSA member – those who are not permitted on-screen credit – are still eligible for an Artios. A letter from the producer verifying their job as Casting Director will be required. 

  • THERE SHOULD ONLY BE ONE SUBMISSION MADE PER PROJECT – please check with your team to make sure only one of you is submitting your project. The lead casting office should submit the project (vs the other Casting Directors). If there are multiple casting directors covering different regions/countries, please confer with your counterparts on who is submitting. Duplicates will be deleted. 

  • For a project to be considered, the Lead Casting Director on the project must be a CSA member. All CSA Casting Director and Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer members who worked on the project should be included on the submission and should appear on the ballot. Any disputes regarding inclusion of a CSA Casting Professional be brought before the Artios Executive Committee for final determination. Their decision can be appealed to the full Board of Directors. For clarity:

    • If the Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer is a CSA member, but the lead Casting Director is not, then the project is ineligible for nomination.

    • If the Lead Casting Director is not a CSA member, but a non-lead Casting Director is a CSA member, then the project is ineligible for nomination.

  • If any CSA member receives on-screen credit, they are automatically eligible for Artios submission, nomination, and potentially winning, as long as the lead casting director is a CSA member.

    • If a CSA Casting Director, Associate Casting Director, or Casting Producer worked on a project, but did not receive onscreen credit, they should be included on the ballot, because they are eligible. 

    • A Casting Director can determine if the Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer in their office deserves to be included on the ballot if the Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer does not receive on-screen credit. If the Casting Professional is a CSA member, they should be included on the ballot. 

    • If the CSA Casting Professional doesn’t receive onscreen credit, but does receive credit on IMDb, this can make them eligible to be on the ballot. 

    • If there is a discrepancy between the Lead Casting Director and another Casting Team over inclusion on the submission, the Artios Executive Committee will hear the case.

    • Factors that will be considered include: 

      • How many leads/series regulars originated from each casting office.

      • How many speaking roles each casting office cast.

      • If the Casting Team has proof of prolonged employment (ie callsheets or contract) during production.

      • If the Casting Team (and/or staff) received on-screen credit they are eligible for the ballot.

    • CSA members should be included on the ballot based on the billing they received on the project, not based on their level of membership within Casting Society. 

  • The Artios Award submissions are voted on by Casting Director level members of CSA to determine the nominees. The nominees are voted on by all members (Casting Directors, Executives, Associate Casting Directors, and Casting Producer members) to determine the winner. In the event of a tie during the nomination voting round, both projects in question will be nominated. In the event of a tie when selecting a winner both projects will win and each winning project will be presented with separate awards.

  • Members of nominated projects may request a digital certificate recognizing their nomination for the current awards year. Please reach out to CSA Staff to request this at info@castingsociety.com.  

  • All CSA Casting Director and CSA Associate Casting Director/Casting Producer names on a nominated project will appear in the Artios program. 

  • When the final nominated projects are announced at the Artios Awards ceremonies, all nominated CSA Casting Directors and CSA Associate Casting Directors/Casting Producers will be announced. 

  • When a nominated project is announced as a winning project, each person on the nomination will receive their own Artios obelisk.

  • The Artios committee in consultation with the Artios Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors will have the right to eliminate a nomination after consultation with the credited CSA Casting Director(s) if that nomination does not meet the eligibility requirements.

  • The Artios committee will have the right to suggest the addition of new categories and the elimination of established categories to the Board of Directors of CSA. The Board of Directors will have the right, by a majority vote of the Board, to combine, create new, or eliminate established categories.

  • There must be a minimum of five (5) submissions in each category for the category to be voted on in both the nomination and final round, and awarded for that year. At the discretion of the Board, if the minimum submissions requirement isn’t met, nominations will either be eliminated or may be folded into another appropriate category, if that category exists.

    • If three (3) to five (5) projects are submitted in a singular category, those projects will still go through vetting. If after vetting, there are still at least three (3) or more projects in the category, this category will bypass the nomination voting phase. They will automatically become nominees and go to the final ballot.

    • If fewer than three projects are submitted in a particular category, the category may be merged with another category or disqualified altogether.   

  • The number of nominees selected in each category is based on the total number of approved and vetted submissions on the final nomination ballot, regardless of the total number of submissions originally received or whether categories have been merged.

    • If the nomination ballot contains ten (10) or more approved and vetted submissions, six (6) nominees will be selected.

    • If the nomination ballot contains seven (7) to nine (9) approved and vetted submissions, five (5) nominees will be selected.

    • If the nomination ballot contains three (3) to six (6) approved and vetted submissions, three (3) nominees will be selected.Any Blue Ribbon Panel shall consist of at least  five (5) CSA members, with no limit on the number of members eligible to participate. 

  • Please adhere to the submission deadline. Due to the enormous amount of coordination involved, there will be no extensions, no exceptions. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

  • End Title Casting should be listed by their city or country. For example, [Casting Director], Atlanta Casting. Or [Casting Director], Italian Casting. Multiple locations can be included.

  • If someone received Casting Consultant or Additional Casting credit, they are eligible to be on the ballot in consultation with the Lead Casting Director. They will be listed on the ballot as Casting Consultant or Additional Casting on a Casting Director level (similar in stature to Casting Director and Location Casting Director). If an Associate is also part of the Consulting or Additional Casting teams, then they will be on the ballot at the Associate level. 

FILM, FIRST RELEASED FOR TELEVISION OR STREAMING

This category is to include the following projects: Festival screenings that receive non-theatrical distribution (straight to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Tubi, Apple+, Amazon, Paramount+, and other online digital platforms), original digital premieres, and TV movies. Programs are to be at a minimum, 41 minutes in length, not including commercials. Films must be live action. Animated projects should be submitted in the Animated Program for Television category. 

For clarity, if the film received theatrical distribution or screened in theaters (other than film festivals), including an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release, it is not eligible for this category. 

If the film received theatrical distribution including an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release, it must be submitted in Phase 2 Feature Film categories. Please watch for additional information regarding Phase 2 submission dates, which will be announced later this year. 

If a feature film has ONLY received film festival screenings, it is not eligible for an Artios Award in any category. 

ANIMATED PROGRAM FOR TELEVISION

All animated programs (episodic series and feature films) first released for television or a streaming platform are eligible in this category.  

This category is to include: Primetime and Daytime specials and/or series. Projects must be at least 22+ minutes in length on average, excluding commercials or airing in blocks of 22+ minutes (if episodes themselves are shorter, for example “Bluey”).

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

LIVE ACTION CHILDREN & FAMILY PROGRAM FOR TELEVISION

All Children & Family programs (pilots, episodic series, and feature films) first released for television or a streaming platform are eligible in this category.Projects must be specifically created for children and/or family viewing. Those projects include projects rated Y, Y7, G, or PG. Anything rated TV-14 or above is subject to review by the Artios Executive Committee. Anything TVMA is ineligible and must be submitted in another category.Projects for any network/platform associated with family programming will most likely vet in this category but is not guaranteed.  

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.Please include the season number in your submission. 

For Example, “Andi Mack: Season 3”. (The pilot is considered as part of season one).

LIMITED SERIES

This category’s programs must have a minimum of 60 airtime minutes for the season and have at least 51% of the season’s episodes air during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. Programs must tell a complete, non-recurring story that does not intend to have an ongoing storyline and/or main characters in subsequent seasons. Anthology series are eligible in this category. 

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies as a limited series, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: COMEDY

At least 51% of the season’s episodes must be 22+ minutes in length, not including commercials.

If the majority of episodes are over 22+ minutes, it belongs in this category. If the majority of episodes are 21 minutes or less, then it should be submitted in the Short Form Series category. 

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies as either a comedy or drama, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

This category will combine the pilot and first season of a series. All CSA Casting Professionals who worked on the pilot and/or first season of the program are eligible in this category as long as they worked on an episode that aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. For clarity, if the pilot has a different casting team from the rest of the series, both casting teams are eligible and should be submitted. 

You may NOT nominate your program in the SERIES category if it is in the first season.  

Pilots/series that are not aired are not eligible for nomination.

Spinoff Pilots are eligible only if the spinoff series premieres its first season during the eligibility period. 

TELEVISION PILOT AND FIRST SEASON: DRAMA

At least 51% of the season’s episodes must be 22+ minutes in length, not including commercials.

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies as either a comedy or drama, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

This category will combine the pilot and first season of a series. All CSA Casting Professionals who worked on the pilot and/or first season of the program are eligible in this category as long as they worked on an episode that aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. For clarity, if the pilot has a different casting team from the rest of the series, both casting teams are eligible and should be submitted. 

You may NOT nominate your program in the SERIES category if it is in the first season.  

Pilots/series that are not aired are not eligible for nomination.

Spinoff Pilots are eligible only if the spinoff series premieres its first season during the eligibility period.

TELEVISION SERIES: COMEDY

At least 51% of the season’s episodes must be 22+ minutes in length, not including commercials.

Submissions in this category may ONLY be for a series in its second season on the air and after. First-season series are to be submitted in the PILOT & FIRST SEASON category ONLY. 

Please include the season number in your submission. For example, “Hacks: Season 3”.

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies as either a comedy or drama, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

DO NOT INCLUDE ANYONE ON YOUR CAST LIST WHO CAME ATTACHED TO THE PROJECT OR WHO WAS ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS SEASONS. SERIES REGULARS ADDED DURING THE SUBMITTED SEASON MAY BE INCLUDED ONLY IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN CASTING THEM. SERIES REGULARS ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS SEASONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. 

TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA

At least 51% of the season’s episodes must be 22+ minutes in length, not including commercials.

Submissions in this category may ONLY be for a series in its second season on the air and after. First-season series are to be submitted in the PILOT & FIRST SEASON category ONLY. 

Please include the season number in your submission. For Example, “Silo: Season 2”.

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies as either a comedy or drama, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

DO NOT INCLUDE ANYONE ON YOUR CAST LIST WHO CAME ATTACHED TO THE PROJECT OR WHO WAS ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS SEASONS. SERIES REGULARS ADDED DURING THE SUBMITTED SEASON MAY BE INCLUDED ONLY IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN CASTING THEM. SERIES REGULARS ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS SEASONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. 

LIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM: MUSICAL, VARIETY, OR SKETCH

This category includes the following projects: live television broadcasts, specials, variety shows, and any sketch comedy series or talk show that incorporates sketch comedy. 

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

If there are multiple episodes, at least 51% of the season’s episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. If exactly 50% have aired/streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted once, in the first year it was eligible.

UNSCRIPTED SERIES: COMPETITION & GAME SHOWS 
DOES NOT INCLUDE HOST CASTING 

Unscripted Competition & Game Show series: Skill or game-based competition format programs where contestants compete against each other in various challenges or tasks to win a prize. These shows can involve elimination rounds where contestants are gradually eliminated until a winner is determined. 

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

Please include the season number in your submission. For example: “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Season 12”.

Examples of this category include:

  • RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE
  • THE WALL
  • JEOPARDY
  • THE VOICE
  • TOP CHEF
  • BEAST GAMES
  • THE CIRCLE

Members must have participated in casting principal, featured and/or recurring cast working as an integral part of the casting team.

UNSCRIPTED SERIES: STRUCTURED
DOES NOT INCLUDE HOST CASTING

Structured unscripted series are programs that contain consistent story elements that mostly adhere to a recurring structured template and is NOT a competition or game show. 

Reenactment series should be submitted in this category. 

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

Please include the season number in your submission. For example: “Queer Eye: Season 6”.
 
Examples of this category include:

  • SHARK TANK
  • THE BACHELOR
  • LOVE IS BLIND
  • WE’RE HERE

Members must have participated in casting principal, featured and/or recurring cast working as an integral part of the casting team.

UNSCRIPTED SERIES: UNSTRUCTURED
DOES NOT INCLUDE HOST CASTING

Unstructured unscripted series are programs that contain story elements driven by the actions of characters and lacking a consistent structured template.

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies for this category, and can adjust the project’s category accordingly.

Please include the season number in your submission. For example, Born This Way: Season 3

Examples include:

  • REAL HOUSEWIVES
  • JERSEY SHORE
  • BASKETBALL WIVES
  • KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS 

Members must have participated in casting principal, featured and/or recurring cast.  Working as an integral part of the casting team, members must have received credit as Casting Director, Supervising Casting Director, Casting Producer, Supervising Casting Producer, VP of Casting and Talent or Head of Casting and/or Talent Department (casting coordinators, casting managers, casting associates and casting assistants are excluded)

At least 51% of the season’s episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. If exactly 50% have aired / streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted in one year. And it should be in the first year it was eligible.

Please upload a cast list for consideration.

DO NOT SUBMIT ANYONE ON YOUR CAST LIST WHO CAME ATTACHED TO THE PROJECT OR WAS CAST WITHOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT.

Please include the IMDb link for this project.

INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SERIES

Programs must have one of the following: 

  • Limited Series - A minimum of two (2) aired episodes (by time of submission). At least 51% of the season’s episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. Programs must tell a complete, non-recurring story that does not have an ongoing storyline and/or main characters in subsequent seasons. If exactly 50% have aired/streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted once, in the first year it was eligible.
  • Recurring Series - both Drama and Comedy series - must be on average 22+ minutes in length, not including commercials. At least 51% of episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. If exactly 50% have aired/streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted once, in the first year it was eligible.
  • Animated projects, Children’s & Family Projects, and Film, First Released on Television or Streaming are also eligible so long as they meet the other eligibility criteria for the International Television Series category.

*The Artios Executive Committee reserves the right to determine if a project qualifies and can adjust the project’s status accordingly.

PHASE ONE - BLUE RIBBON PANEL CATEGORIES

SHORT FILM

All submissions should include links to your project(s). Please make the link to your project(s) available for viewing through Friday, February 19, 2027.

ANY PROJECT WITHOUT AN ACTIVE LINK WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

A Short Film is defined as an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 59 minutes, including all credits. Both Live Action and Animation short films will be considered in this same category.

For consideration in this category:

  1. Films must have been screened at a major film festival during the eligibility period.
    OR
  2. Made for and received digital distribution on a recognizable and reputable* platform. 
     
    *Examples of recognizable and reputable platforms include but are not limited to:
    • Premium Cable: Amazon, Apple, Paramount+,Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Showtime, Starz
    • Digital Media: DirecTV Now, Facebook Watch, Mitu, Snapchat, Youtube, Shudder
    • SVOD/AVOD, CollegeHumor's Dropout TV, Funny or Die, YouTube TV

Please note that this does not include any Short Film that was made independently and self-distributed, posted online, or screened privately by the filmmakers as the only source of distribution. As a reminder, student films are only eligible if they have received distribution - either at a festival (school showcases are not criteria) or on any of the above platforms.
 
Applicants must submit a link to a version of the film no longer than 40 minutes total. PLEASE make sure you either get a link to a site where the film is viewable or create a free Vimeo account and upload your film there. All films must have a link available to the Blue Ribbon Panel to be eligible.

The SHORT FILM judging will occur in two phases:

  • Phase 1: One Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of at least five CSA members, will review ALL short films submitted for nomination and will vote to establish the official nominees. The six (6) Short Film projects with the highest number of votes will be nominated in the category. (Six nominations only happen if there are more than ten (10) submissions). 
    • Any CSA member who does not have a project under consideration in this category will be eligible to serve on the voluntary Blue Ribbon Panel.
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot, both projects will be nominated for a total of seven (7) nominations.
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot involving more than two titles, then the Blue Ribbon panel will re-vote on the tied projects until a clear winner is chosen. 
  • Phase 2: Nominated Short Film projects will be presented to and voted on by the entire CSA membership.

SHORT FORM SERIES

All submissions should include links to your project(s). Please make the link to your project(s) available for viewing through Friday, February 19, 2027.

Vertical projects should be submitted in this category. 

THE ENTIRE SEASON OF THE PROJECT MUST BE AVAILABLE TO BE VIEWED VIA AN ACTIVE LINK THE PANEL CAN WATCH. ANY PROJECT WITHOUT THIS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. 

A Short Form Series is defined as at least two related episodes of video content that originates on a widely distributed digital platform. At least 51% of the season’s episodes must be a maximum of 21 minutes and 59 seconds in length or less, including credits.
 
At least 51% of the season’s episodes must have aired/streamed/premiered during the eligibility window. A minimum of two (2) episodes must have aired. If exactly 50% have aired/streamed during the window then the project can only be submitted once, in the first year it was eligible.

The SHORT FORM SERIES judging will occur in two phases:

  • Phase 1: One Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of at least five CSA members, will review ALL Short Form Series projects submitted for nomination and will vote to establish the official nominees. The six (6) Short Form Series projects with the highest number of votes will be nominated in the category. (Six nominations only happen if there are more than ten (10) submissions).
    • Any CSA member who does not have a project under consideration in this category will be eligible to serve on the voluntary Blue Ribbon Panel.  
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot, both projects will be nominated for a total of seven (7) nominations.
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot involving more than two titles, then the Blue Ribbon panel will re-vote on the tied projects until a clear winner is chosen. 
  • Phase 2: The nominated SHORT FORM SERIES projects will then be presented to and voted on by the entire CSA membership.

COMMERCIALS

Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Casting 

The commercial has iconic cultural impact ranging from a spokesperson with an identifiable catch phrase, authentic and groundbreaking inclusion of talent from any underrepresented community, casting that challenges industry norms, or highlights significant social or political events.

Since commercials do not include on-screen credits, the Casting Director must show proof of work. 

Please submit one of the following for proof of work:  

  • Credit on iSpot.tv or another industry resource  
  • Screenshot from a Social Media Post, that shows the project along with casting credit or tag
  • YouTube link that shows the project along with casting credit or tag
  • Press release or article that specifies casting credit
  • Proof of Breakdown posted on reputable sites including but not limited to:
    • Breakdown Express
    • Casting Networks
    • Backstage
    • Casting Frontier

Criteria 

  • Short advertising spot(s) or commercial campaigns made as motion pictures, cumulatively five (5) minutes or less in length (individually or grouped together), and intended for showing over television, new media, or social media. Eligible for commercials worldwide. 
  • Advertising or commercial messages include any production that depicts or mentions the advertiser’s name, product, or service. They include program openings and closings which mention the advertiser’s name, product, or service. Industrials do not qualify.
  • If multiple CSA Casting Directors are involved on the spot, it will count as one submission and all participating Casting Directors will be included on the nomination - similar to how the Film and Television categories work. If there are multiple Casting Directors on a spot, please only submit the commercial ONCE. If there is a Location Casting Director or Associate Casting Director on the spot, please include them as well in the nomination.
  • Casting can include both on-camera and Voice Over (VO) talent if the Casting Director ALSO did the VO casting. 
  • If there is an on-camera presence (for example animation) where VO talent is the primary talent cast, that is eligible at this time. 
  • If it is a live-action commercial, and casting ONLY casts the VO talent, that is not eligible at this time. 
  • To remain consistent with Short Form Series and Short Film, a Blue Ribbon Panel will review submissions on the same timeline to decide on the nominees. 
  • Submissions require a cast list as well as a brief statement (300 words max) that describes the casting process and provides insight into any challenges or successes.

Judging Process 
The COMMERCIAL judging will occur in two phases:

  • Phase 1: One Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of at least five CSA members, will review ALL commercial projects submitted for nomination and will vote to establish the official nominees. The six (6) commercials with the highest number of votes will be nominated in the category. (Six nominations only happen if there are more than ten (10) submissions).
    • Any CSA member who does not have a project under consideration in this category will be eligible to serve on the voluntary Blue Ribbon Panel.  
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot, both projects will be nominated for a total of seven (7) nominations.
    • In the event of a tie for the 6th nomination slot involving more than two titles, then the Blue Ribbon panel will re-vote on the tied projects until a clear winner is chosen. 
  • Phase 2: The nominated commercials will then be presented to and voted on by the entire CSA membership.

Please include the iSpot.tv or YouTube link for this project if it exists.

THEATER CATEGORIES

THEATER GUIDELINES

ALL THEATER PRODUCTIONS MUST HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE QUALIFYING PERIOD OF JUNE 1, 2025 - MAY 31, 2026. 

If the Production is produced within two different categories within the same qualifying period (i.e. Off-Broadway to Broadway, or Regional to Off-Broadway, etc.), then the Casting Director must choose only one category in which to submit their projects. If 50% of the cast changes, then the Casting Director may submit the Production in both applicable categories.

Previously nominated Productions must have 50% or more of principals recast to be eligible for a second nomination, in the same or different category.

If a CSA member has held the contract for any previous incarnation of a Production, and any percentage of the principal casting remains from that CSA member’s work, then that member maintains Artios eligibility for that Production and for purposes of Artios nomination would share credit with the CSA member who currently holds the contract and is submitting the nomination.

PLEASE NOTE: You must submit your full cast in a PDF when submitting your nominations as well as the title/cast page(s) of the playbill (up to three documents) with each nomination.

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (Denver Playhouse)”.

BROADWAY

2 categories – One (1) for Play (Comedy or Drama) and One (1) for Musicals
Must appear in a Broadway House and meet the eligibility requirements for a Tony Award. Must have a minimum of sixteen (16) paid performances (including previews).

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (Richard Rogers Theater)”.

NEW YORK THEATER (exclusive of Broadway Productions)

2 separate categories – One (1) for Plays (1) for Musicals. Must appear within a 60-mile radius of the New York City Equity Office. Please note that this radius includes Paper Mill, McCarter, West Port, Two Rivers among others in this category. Must have a minimum of sixteen (16) paid performances (including previews). Productions within Manhattan that are Tony Award eligible are to be submitted in the Broadway category. Productions in theaters under 499 seats are to be submitted in this category. Productions must operate under any Actors Equity Contract and be presented for a paying audience. 

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE: road/touring companies, readings, workshops, benefits, or improvised/unscripted performances.

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (The Public Theater)”.

REGIONAL THEATER

1 category - will cover all professional productions at theaters throughout the United States.
Productions must operate under any Actors Equity Contract and be presented for a paying audience. Must have a minimum of twelve (12) paid performances. To be eligible in this category, productions must originate beyond a 60-mile radius from the New York or Los Angeles Equity offices.

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (Denver Playhouse)”.

LOS ANGELES THEATER

All Live Theater Productions within a 60-mile radius of Los Angeles, from the Equity Office in North Hollywood. Productions must originate in Los Angeles.
Must have a minimum of twelve (12) paid performances, The Hollywood Bowl being exempt from this requirement due to the 15,000+ seating capacity. 

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE: road/touring companies, readings, workshops, benefits, or improvised/unscripted performances.

For clarity, The Blank Theatre Company's Annual Young Playwrights Festival is eligible for nomination. 

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (Geffen Playhouse)”.

SPECIAL THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE

1 category - will cover all professional productions at theaters located in the United States.
Professional productions operating under any professional union actor contract and presented for a paying audience. 

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE: road/touring companies, readings, workshops, benefits, or improvised/unscripted performances. 

Must have fifteen (15) or fewer paid/public performances.

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (City Center)”.

THEATER TOURS

Must be a professional production operating under any road and/or touring company. Must be operating under any professional union actor contract, presented for a paying audience. Can be either a sit-down for a long-term in one city or multiple-city tour.

Please include the name of the theater in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “Hamilton (Pantages)”.

LONDON THEATRE

The first performance must have occurred between June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026.

Plays and musicals are eligible. Must appear in a theatre inside the M25. Must have a minimum of sixteen (16) paid performances (including previews). Productions must operate in line with SOLT rules and be presented for a paying audience.

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE: road/touring companies, readings, workshops, benefits, or improvised/unscripted performances.

Please note, only one production can be submitted i.e if the relevant production transfers from an off-West End venue to a West End house, please submit only ONE iteration, for example: “Operation Mincemeat (Fortune Theatre)” OR “Operation Mincemeat (Southwark Playhouse)”.

Please include the name of the theatre in your submission title to eliminate potential duplicates or multiple productions in different venues. For example: “The Motive and the Cue (National Theatre)”.