‘Oppenheimer’ Casting Director John Papsidera Joins Search for Australia’s Next Young Star
Hollywood casting director John Papsidera, whose credits include Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight and The Odyssey, has joined the judging panel for the 2026 AACTA Young Stars National Youth Casting Call, as the nationwide search for emerging Australian acting talent continues.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative invites young performers aged 13 to 18 to submit self-taped auditions for the opportunity to be assessed by some of the industry’s leading casting professionals.
Presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) in collaboration with Casting Networks and the Casting Guild of Australia, and supported by Screenwise, the programme is designed to provide young actors with access to professional development, industry connections and potential career opportunities.
Papsidera brings considerable Hollywood experience to the judging panel. His film credits span Christopher Nolan productions including Memento, Inception, Interstellar and Oppenheimer, alongside major franchises such as Jurassic World and Superman.
His television work also includes Westworld, Yellowstone, Wednesday and Fallout, with his career encompassing more than 250 film and television projects.
The casting director joins Australian industry figures Thea McLeod, Anousha Zarkesh and Nikki Barrett on the judging panel.
McLeod, president of the Casting Guild of Australia, is known for her extensive work on Neighbours, while Zarkesh’s credits include Kangaroo and Mystery Road. Barrett has worked on productions including Elvis, Bring Her Back and The Babadook.
The initiative offers its overall winner $2,500 in travel support towards a trip to the United States, including opportunities to meet an international casting director and connect with industry professionals.
Other benefits include access to The Studio by Casting Networks in Sydney, while finalists will receive six-month Casting Networks Premium memberships and opportunities for professional headshots during the AACTA Festival at HOTA on the Gold Coast.
The programme has already provided a platform for emerging Australian performers, with previous recipients progressing into film and television work.
Among them is Sebastian Sero, who was named the recipient of the previous competition after appearing alongside Jack Black and Paul Rudd in Anaconda.
The return of AACTA Young Stars comes amid continued interest in Australian performers working across major international film and television productions, with the programme seeking to connect emerging talent directly with experienced casting professionals.
Applications for the current casting call remain open until Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5pm AEDT, with further information available through AACTA.