THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY ANNOUNCE THE TOP 50 FINALISTS FOR AACTA YOUNG STARS: NATIONAL YOUTH CASTING CALL
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), in collaboration with Casting Networks® and the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA), today announce the top 50 finalists for AACTA Young Stars: National Youth Casting Call. The Australian-wide initiative aims to uncover the next acting talent and provide tangible opportunities to help the next generation of performers realise their dream.
The initiative attracted an exceptional pool of aspiring actors from across the country with a number of high calibre submissions received, highlighting the eagerness of young Australians to make their way into the industry. After a competitive selection process, the AACTA Young Stars judging panel narrowed down the list to the top 50 who have demonstrated outstanding potential and promise in their respective performances. The finalists were determined by an esteemed panel of judges which includes top international Casting Directors, Thea McLeod, Anousha Zarkesh, and Nikki Barrett.
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AACTA Young Stars Top 50 Finalists |
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Liliana Barmania |
Oliver De Los Santos |
Lilly Kime |
Namaala Slabb |
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Jeremy Blewitt |
Arwen Diamond |
Riya Mandrawa |
Aimee Smith |
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Tom Block |
Jago Field |
Eliza Marshall |
Chase Smith-Wood |
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Zane Blumeris |
Mia Foran |
Anthony Miller |
Willow Speers |
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Noah Bouzas |
Charlotte Gray |
Giulia Modonese |
Sepi To'a |
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Soraya Briggs |
Kaan Guldur |
Ayiana Ncube |
Ava Tyner |
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Alyla Browne |
Theo Haitana |
Keanu Norman |
Pez Warner |
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Riley Bryant |
Lee Tiger Halley |
Jayden Pope |
Dulcie White |
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Seyna Catzel |
Jada-Lee Henry |
Kayden Price |
Austen Wilmot |
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Stacy Clausen |
Stella Iacono |
George Rayias |
Joseph Zada |
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Conor Colgan |
Chaydon Jay |
Matilda Ross |
Griffin Zardo |
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Leah Courtis |
Lokota Kayn |
Coby Sanchez |
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Abby Dante |
Adelaide Kennedy |
Mibin Slabb |
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The finalists are invited to join the Australian Academy on the Gold Coast in 2024 during their inaugural AACTA Festival running from Thursday 8th to Saturday 11th February alongside the AACTA Industry Awards and AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group. Here the finalists can participate in invaluable workshops and mentorship opportunities which will coincide with more than 70 other events at the festival including a dynamic array of panels, meet-and-greet and screenings. AACTA Festival will be held at the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast, a destination renowned for its beauty and vibrant cultural scene.
A winner will be selected by the judging panel made up of Australia’s top Casting Directors, led by Thea McLeod (Neighbours, Better Man, Measure For Measure, Pawno), Anousha Zarkesh (The New Boy, Mystery Road, Total Control, Preppers), Nikki Barrett (Elvis, Mad Max: Fury Road, Talk to Me, The Power of the Dog, The Babadook), and Liz Mullane (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong, Mortal Engines), as well as AACTA Award winning actors Claudia Karvan and Mark Coles Smith. The winner will receive a $10,000 Flight Centre voucher and $2500 cash in travel support to fly to the United States where they will have the opportunity to meet with a renowned international Casting Director, network with key industry practitioners and participate in a weeklong workshop at Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles. They will also have access to The Studio by Casting Networks in Sydney for a full year and will have the chance to meet with both Australian-based Casting Directors and Agents.
AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic said "We’ve been blown away with the quality of entries we’ve received for the inaugural AACTA Young Stars National Youth Casting Call. This initiative aims to provide a stage for the next generation of performers to shine. The top 50 finalists represent the extraordinary depth of talent across Australia, embodying the spirit and dedication of this generation. We look forward to continuing this initiative with our finalists at AACTA Festival, where they will get access to mentorship, workshops, and industry connections."
Casting Networks Regional Manager AU/NZ Ryan Hicks said, “Casting Networks would like to thank all the entrants for the time and effort that went into their amazing submissions. We're excited by the response we had from thousands of aspiring young actors all around the country! Congratulations to the finalists, it is a special group of emerging talent. Casting Networks is thrilled to partner with AACTA and the CGA in bringing this initiative to life. Casting Networks is thankful for the work and countless hours the judges put in to the process. Best of luck to the finalists!”
CGA President Thea McLeod said, “Huge congratulations to the phenomenal 50 finalists! We literally had thousands of entries into this inaugural competition, and the judging has been so challenging as the standard was extremely high, so to make it into the top 50, every single one you should be so proud. Anousha, Nikki, and I had the privilege of witnessing an abundance of exceptional talent, making the selection process an absolute delight. It was truly an honour to be able to watch such fresh and gifted young actors from all corners of our country. The level of talent displayed is very positive for the future of our industry… and to those who did not make the 50 this year, keep going, perseverance is everything and this platform provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase your ability. We're eagerly anticipating the next stage and can hardly wait to witness the continued success of these young actors."
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