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Each year, the CDA hosts a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating the best in casting. This event honours exceptional achievements in film, television, and live performance.

About

The CDA Awards 2025 took place at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London on Friday 10th October and were hosted by comedian Lou Sanders.

The awards celebrated exceptional achievements in Commercials, Film, TV, New Media and Live Performance casting.

Meet the jury

Matt Hood

Matt is the Managing Director of Spotlight, the UK & Ireland’s leading casting directory. Founded in 1927, Spotlight has been the essential resource for actors seeking to showcase their talents for nearly a hundred years, and four years ago joined the Talent Systems group of companies. Prior to joining Talent Systems in 2021, Matt served as Deputy General Secretary at Equity, concluding a seventeen year career with the performing arts union.

Charlotte Martin

Paris-born and a Sorbonne graduate in law and art history, with a Master’s in Renaissance art, Charlotte Martin began her career as an Assistant Curator at institutions including the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, the Guggenheim and the Musée du Luxembourg. She moved into casting in 2005, later founding her own agency and opening a Paris studio in 2014. She casts for commercials and films, collaborating regularly with directors such as Damien Chazelle, Aoife McArdle, Adam Berg, Daniel Wolfe, François Rousselet, Henry Hobson and Martin Werner.

Eliot Liss

Eliot has extensive experience in agency, in-house and client-side production.
Since joining the IPA - the UK trade body for advertising and media agencies - as Head of Production, he has been advising member agencies on production matters and developing policy and best practices within the industry. He particularly enjoys working with the talent community - whether actors, real people, celebrities, casting directors, or agents - on both creative and business affairs levels.

Helen Hadfield

Co-founder of Snapper Films, Helen is ranked among the top 20 Advertising Producers, she has 30+ years producing award-winning campaigns for Mastercard, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé, Volkswagen and British Airways. Her work has won recognition at Cannes Lions, British Television Advertising Awards and she has been nominated for a D&AD Pencil.
Associate Producer on Blood Orange starring Iggy Pop, she is currently developing features with Shona Auerbach, Shekhar Kapur and others.

Jane Millichip

Jane is the CEO of BAFTA, the leading arts charity and awards body representing film, games, and television industries. BAFTA works to level the playing field for all creatives and champion screen arts. She oversees Albert, the sustainability organisation for screen industries. Previously Chief Content Officer at Sky Studios, she has 30+ years’ media experience spanning TV production, distribution, broadcasting, and journalism.
She’s a SEEd trustee and WFTV mentor.

Jeanie Finlay

Jeanie Finlay is a British documentary filmmaker known for intimate, award-winning work. Her latest film, Your Fat Friend, premiered at Tribeca and won Sheffield Doc Fest’s audience award. She’s made films for HBO, BBC and IFC, including The Great Hip Hop Hoax, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, Seahorse andEmmy-nominated The Last Watch.
Her emotionally intimate work has earned Emmy, BIFA, and Grierson recognition. She’s currently making her tenth feature film.

Rachel Reiss

Rachel is Senior Casting Director at Liz Lewis Casting Partners, working across podcasts, commercials, animation, film, television and voiceovers for Netflix, Apple TV, Disney and Wondery. A three-time Heller Award recipient and 2023 Artios Award winner, she’s cast hundreds of commercials earning Clio and Cannes Lion Awards.
She serves on CSA’s Board of Directors as VP of Technology and leads the AI Planning Committee, bridging casting and emerging technologies.

Kensaku Lereau Watanabe

Kensaku is a Tokyo-based casting director with over twelve years’ experience in commercials, film, television and digital content.
At Condé Nast Japan, he manages high-profile projects for VOGUE, GQ, and WIRED and has cast award-winning campaigns for global brands including Nike, Sony, Suntory and Coca-Cola.

Michael Francis Williams

Michael is a filmmaker focusing on character explorations, arresting visuals and marginalised voices.
He made his TV debut directing the Peabody-winning David Makes Man. He developed a major animated musical for Netflix and recently directed The Changeling for Apple. Michael has written and directed celebrated shorts inspired by his perspective as a British Black queer artist and directed commercials for Nike, Amazon, and Adidas.

Nominees

Aisling Knight - CBA Casting

After a decade in the industry, Aisling founded CBA Casting in 2020, bringing a fresh vision to the field. Her approach is built on a simple belief: by understanding the actor as much as the character, she fosters a healthier, more approachable casting process where everyone can do their best work.

Ali Fearnley

With over 25 years of casting experience, Ali and her team have worked with leading production companies and directors worldwide, bringing countless award-winning campaigns to life. Passionate about collaboration, they thrive on working closely with directors to discover the best talent for every project - whether that means established actors or fresh, emerging faces.
Ali is also proud to be serving her fourth year as Co-Chair of the CDA, continuing to work alongside industry leaders to champion excellence in casting.

Best Casting of a Campaign
Best Casting of a UK & ROI Commercial
Best Casting of an Online Commercial
Stark Casting

Stark Casting has been established for over 30 years and is widely known for providing authentic and genuine representation across commercials, stills, branded content, short films, and more. The agency works with directors, producers, and advertising agencies around the world to create award-winning content.

Bailey Frances

Bailey Frances has been with Shakyra Dowling Casting for the past seven years and has quickly established herself as an award-winning casting director with a distinctive body of work. Her credits include Daisy Jacob’s Dangerous Romance (Raindance, HollyShorts) and her upcoming feature debut Paint Quest.
She won the Best Casting Award at Tweetfest 2023 for Maxine Peake’s Incompatible, and has also cast Karen Bryson’s Monochromatic and BAFTA-nominated Elham Ehsas’ There Will Come Soft Rains.

Claire Catterson Casting

With over twenty years of experience in casting, Claire has worked on a wide range of projects, including multiple award-winning commercials and music videos. Casting talent worldwide, she is passionate about discovering new performers while supporting established actors. Claire is delighted to be nominated this year and grateful for the recognition.

Emma Ashton - Kastwork

Emma Ashton has been casting since 1996. Trained at film school, she began her career in production before transitioning into casting. Emma and her company, Kastwork, have contributed to a range of exciting and award-winning projects.
She is very proud to have received an award herself for Best Casting at the inaugural CDA Awards in the Online Commercial category in 2018. Previously nominated for Best Casting in Feature Film, Short Film, and International Commercial categories, she is thrilled about this year’s nomination in the Live Pefformance category.

ET Casting

ET Casting operates from London and Sydney, with Casting Directors Emily Tilelli, CDA CDG, and Zita Zutic Konak, CDA CDG, dividing their time between the UK and Australia. With over 30 years of combined experience, they’ve cast thousands of commercials and numerous films, earning recognition in top industry publications and global festivals such as Cannes Lions, Sundance, and BAFTA.
Committed to inclusion, ET Casting champions new talent and advocates for authentic on-screen representation.

Best Street Casting
Hannah Birkett Casting

Hannah Birkett is an award-winning casting director with more than 27 years’ experience, renowned for her instinctive eye for comedy and her bold, original casting choices. She has a talent for matching actors to roles in a way that brings characters vividly to life, creating performances that stay with audiences well beyond the final frame.
Her forward-looking approach—spotting emerging talent and understanding audience dynamics—ensures every project benefits from casting that feels both authentic and memorable.
A long-standing BAFTA voting member and CDA board member, Hannah is deeply committed to inclusivity and to pushing creative boundaries, championing storytelling that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of real life.
Her work has been recognised with several industry honours, including Cannes Lions, British Arrow, Ciclope, D&AD, Creative Circle, CDA, Cristal, Shots, and the Kinsale Shark Award.

Best Casting of an International Commercial
Best Casting Featuring Children
Heather March

Over 25 years of experience casting TV, print, and online advertising campaigns.

Jill Green

Jill’s shows include: The Great Gatsby, Devil Wears Prada, Shucked, War Horse (since 2015), The Little Big Things, Jersey Boys, Lazarus, Scottsboro Boys, Fosse, and many more.

Kate & Lou +Ro Casting

Since launching in 2007 Kate & Lou +Ro Casting have successfully cast thousands of incredible actors, models and real people for film, television, commercials, online projects and photography campaigns. Working with some of the biggest directors, photographers and brands in the world, their award-winning work spans the globe.

Kharmel Cochrane

Kharmel Cochrane is a celebrated Casting Director, known for championing fresh, diverse talent across acclaimed projects such as The Witch, The Lighthouse, Saltburn, and John Wick: Chapter 4. With over 14 years of experience, she is one of Britain’s most influential figures in casting, shaping both independent films and major studio releases.

Best Casting of a Music Promo
LANE Casting

LANE Casting is a company of Casting Directors who work internationally, with offices in Barcelona, London, and Madrid. Using traditional casting methods, street casting, specialist research, and celebrity casting, their work ranges from long-form narrative and TV series to short films, commercials, music videos, stills, and special projects.

Best Casting of a Short Film
Leanne Flinn

Leanne has developed a creative approach to casting and has a keen eye for spotting talent. She mixes traditional casting methods with real people and is often approached for comedy casting. Leanne works with some incredible directors and has gone on to cast a range of exciting projects. These include numerous notable commercials (This Girl Can), TV (such as the first season of People Just Do Nothing), music promos (Dua Lipa, Chaka Khan), and award-winning short films.
She has also worked on feature films—hired to street cast new talent and non-actors for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Oscar-winning film The Favourite. Leanne has won D&AD Pencils, Silver British Arrows, and Ciclope casting awards, as well as CDG and CDA awards.
Leanne is a member of both the CDA and the CDG.

Best Casting of an Open Media Project
Nicci Topping Casting

Nicci is one of the UK’s leading Casting Directors and has been a professional casting director for over 25 years casting over 50 Films and TV shows. Working across film, TV, Games and high-end commercials she has worked with many leading directors and producers. She is the former chair of the CSA’s Equity in Entertainment and Festivals and Panels Committee.

Road Casting

RoadCasting blends fearless vision with cultural inclusivity. Global casting, powered by purpose.

Best Casting of a Stills Campaign
Rosie & James Pearson, Pearson Casting

Pearson Casting’s UK theatre work includes Olivier Award–winning Operation Mincemeat, Olivier Award–winning Titanique, Olivier Award–nominated SIX The Musical, Olivier Award–nominated production Bluey’s Big Play, and the Olivier Award–nominated revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.

Best Casting of a Live Performance
Sally McCleery

Sally started working in casting 14 years ago, assisting Brendan McNamara, Leanne Flinn, and Kharmel Cochrane on many commercial projects, from which she began to develop her skills and her own client list. Prior to working in casting, she had extensive experience working with children in a variety of settings, from children’s homes to adventure playgrounds, and naturally gravitated to children’s casting from the start.
She has undertaken children’s searches on projects such as The Crown, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Trying, That Christmas, Les Misérables, Fear, and His Dark Materials. She now divides her time between her own work in commercial, film, and TV, most recently working on UK casting for Yorgos Lanthimos’s forthcoming feature Bugonia, and as an ad hoc associate to Kahleen Crawford and Rachel Freck.
Sally lives in Brighton with her cat children, Zoo and Neko, and her seven saxophones.

Shakyra Dowling

Shakyra Dowling is celebrated for championing emerging and diverse talent. Her work spans critically acclaimed films that have premiered at top-tier festivals, including Berlinale, Sundance, and TIFF. Recent highlights include Last Swim (Berlinale 2024 Crystal Bear winner) and the soon-to-be-released Peter Greenaway film Lucca Mortis.

Best Casting of a Feature Film & Scripted Production
Sue Odell

I love finding fantastic faces for striking, hard-hitting films and ads - especially for charity projects. And I can be fun too… apparently.

Thomas Adams Casting

With over two decades in casting, Tom launched Thomas Adams Casting in 2015 and has since become a trusted partner to directors, producers, and talent agents worldwide. Known for his sharp eye and instinct for discovering the perfect fit, he brings experience, creativity, and dedication to every project.

Best Casting of a Charity / Public Awareness Commercial
Tree Petts Casting

Tree specialises in casting films, commercials, photography, and branded content, and is known for her knowledge, enthusiasm, and abundant energy. She has worked with some of the biggest international brands and directors worldwide and has always loved a niche brief - no brief is too obscure!

Zita Zutic Konak

Zita began her career in theatre before moving into film and TV as an Assistant Director on projects such as Frankenweenie and Downton Abbey, eventually transitioning into casting in 2013. Since then, she has cast hundreds of commercials, over twenty short films and notable projects including Channel 4’s The British Miracle Meat and the upcoming feature Blockhead. Now a Casting Director at ET Casting, a CDA board member and a CDG member, Zita is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and gender balance in the industry.

Winners

Congratulations to all the winners from the CDA Awards 2025! We look forward to inviting you back for 2026.

Best Casting of a UK & ROI Commercial
Ali Fearnley – “40 Years of Christmas” – Vodafone
Best Casting of an International Commercial
Hannah Birkett Casting – “Your Door To More” – Doordash
Best Casting of an Online Commercial
Ali Fearnley – “Never Just a Period” – Libresse
Best Street Casting
ET Casting – “Made With Care” – Department of Health & Social Care
Best Casting Featuring Children
Hannah Birkett Casting – “First School Poo” – Andrex
Best Casting of a Charity / Public Awareness Commercial
Thomas Adams Casting – “This Is Not a Drill” – Calm
Best Casting of an Open Media Project
Leanne Flinn – “Where Clothes Move On” – eBay x Love Island
Best Casting of a Live Performance
Rosie & James Pearson, Pearson Casting – “Starlight Express” –
Best Casting of a Stills Campaign
Road Casting – “Family Portrait” – JD Sports
Best Casting of a Music Promo
Kharmel Cochrane – “Young” – Little Simz
Best Casting of a Campaign
Ali Fearnley – “Britain's Tea” – Tetley
Best Casting of a Short Film
LANE Casting – “Delivery” –
Best Casting of a Feature Film & Scripted Production
Shakyra Dowling – “Last Swim” –

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