LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/17/2006 -- The Casting Society of America have announced the presenters of their 22nd Artios Awards® being held November 1, 2006 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting, the awards are given on the criteria of originality, creativity and the contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project.

"The Artios Awards are intended to celebrate the work that we do that sometimes goes unnoticed," said Dawn Steinberg, Event Chairperson and Senior Vice President, Talent and Casting, Sony Pictures Television. "This very important evening provides our community the opportunity to honor ourselves, and to further demonstrate the pride that we have in the work that has been accomplished during the course of a year."

Each year, in addition to the twenty different theatrical casting categories announced during the award presentation, the Casting Society of America also recognizes Industry notables with a Career Achievement Award and bestows the Hoyt Bowers Award on one of its own. This year, these awards will be presented to John Wells and April Webster, respectively, each luminaries in their field.

Presenting the Career Achievement Award to John Wells will be casting director John Levey ("The West Wing," "ER"). Producer/director J.J. Abrams ("Lost," "Six Degrees," "Alias," "Mission: Impossible III") will present April Webster with the Hoyt Bowers Award. Other celebrity presenters include Martin Landau ("Entourage," OSCAR® for "Ed Wood," Golden Globe® Winner), Noah Wyle ("ER"), Maura Tierney ("ER"), Saana Lathan ("A Raisin In the Sun," "Nip/Tuck"), Emmy Rossum ("Poseidon," "The Phantom of the Opera"), Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine," "Signs"), Chris Pine ("Just My Luck," "Princess Diaries 2"), and John Cho ("Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," "American Pie"). Elon Gold ("Stacked") will return as host of the evening.

History of the Artios Awards

In October of 1985, the Casting Society of America presented the first awards for excellence in casting at an Artios Awards luncheon. Held in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel, the event was attended by more than 500 industry leaders. Seven CSA members were honored in four different casting categories. The award named in his honor was presented posthumously to Hoyt Bowers. The Lifetime Achievement Award (now called the Career Achievement Award) was presented to Renee Valente. Three years later, the first Artios for theatrical production was presented in an added New York ceremony. Today, members are honored in twenty different theatrical casting categories in simultaneous events held in Beverly Hills and New York.

About CSA

The Casting Society of America is the premier organization of theatrical Casting Directors in film, television, and theater and is passionately committed to establishing a recognized standard of professionalism in the industry; enhancing the stature of the profession in the industry; freely exchanging information and ideas among members; providing the opportunity to honor the outstanding achievements of our members; and providing members with professional support and resources. Working in conjunction with the newly established Teamsters affiliation, CSA members are a united professional society that consistently sets the level of professionalism in casting on which the entertainment industry has come to rely.

With more than 360 members, the Casting Society of America has representation not only in the United States, but also in Canada, England and Australia. For more information, please visit www.castingsociety.com or call 323-463-1925.