ANOUSHA ZARKESH CASTING AUSTRALIA

WORK WITH ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED VOICES IN AUSTRALIAN CASTING. AN EXCLUSIVE MASTERCLASS WITH ANOUSHA ZARKESH – VICE PRESIDENT, CASTING GUILD OF AUSTRALIA & FOUNDER OF TOP-TIER CASTING HOUSE, ANOUSHA ZARKESH CASTING.

5 Hour Masterclass. In Studio. In Person. April, 2026

FTSI presents Anousha Zarkesh, joining us in our Melbourne studio, in person, exclusively from Sydney – for an exceptional masterclass.

Anousha has been appointed Head Casting Director for Slander, Melbourne’s gritty new procedural drama, executive produced by Golden Globe winner Rachel Griffiths and set to stream on Stan.

Anousha Zarkesh is one of Australia’s most accomplished and influential casting directors, with more than 25 years of experience casting many of the nation’s most significant film and television productions. She is the Vice President of the Casting Guild of Australia and the founder of Anousha Zarkesh Casting, a Sydney-based casting office widely respected for its artistic integrity, cultural leadership, and commitment to championing diverse voices and Indigenous talent across the screen industry.

Her work spans major feature films, television series, and international productions, and she is recognised for her ability to discover exceptional talent and assemble casts that elevate storytelling at the highest level. Her credits include acclaimed productions such as The Correspondent, Kangaroo, The New Boy, Mystery Road: Origin, Territory, Reckless, The Killings: Parrish Station, Treasure and Dirt, and Wolfram, working alongside many of Australia’s leading directors and producers.

Anousha’s contribution to the industry has been recognised with numerous honours from both the Casting Guild of Australia and the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Recent highlights include CGA Awards for Best Casting for The Correspondent and Mystery Road: Origin (2025), Shayda (2023), We Are Still Here and Bali 2002 (2022), and Total Control (2019), as well as the AACTA Award for Best Casting in Film for Shayda (2024) and High Ground (2021). Her work has also received multiple AACTA nominations across both film and television, reflecting the consistent impact of her casting across the Australian screen landscape.

Renowned for her insight into performance, story, and industry expectations, Anousha brings a director’s understanding of character and a casting director’s precision to every project she undertakes.

For this exclusive Masterclass, Anousha travels from Sydney to Melbourne to work directly with a small group of actors, offering rare access to the perspective of one of the country’s leading casting authorities. Participants will gain invaluable insight into the realities of casting for film and television, audition technique, character interpretation, and the professional standards expected by Australia’s top casting offices.

The Casting Masterclass

Film & Television Studio International has been facilitating Masterclasses in screen-testing and auditioning for over 25 years, touring across Australia and the UK and connecting actors with top-tier casting directors.

We are thrilled to welcome Anousha Zarkesh to our Melbourne studio in April 2026 as part of our interstate initiative, crossing casting borders for an exclusive in-person masterclass.

This 5-hour, in-studio masterclass gives actors the opportunity to work on-camera, receive direct feedback, and learn what casting directors are really looking for. You’ll explore scene work, audition technique, and performance choices, with practical guidance to help you stand out in a competitive industry.

Through these sessions, actors also gain valuable exposure and connections to decision-makers, opening doors to opportunities in national and international productions.

Duration: 5 Hours | In-Studio, On-Camera

Preparation for Your Session:

• You will receive a selection of SIDES to choose from up to 7 days prior to your session
• SIDES are two-handers and a maximum of 3 pages
• Lines must be 100% off book
• A reader will be provided on the day
• You will receive a copy of your scene to take home

Places are strictly limited and allocated on a rolling basis.

AWARDS

CGA – Best Casting Film – THE CORRESPONDENT – Winner

CGA – Best Casting TV Series – MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN – Winner

AACTA – Best Film – THE CORRESPONDENT and KANGAROO – Nomination

AACTA – Best TV Series – MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN – Nomination

AACTA – Best Casting in Film – SHAYDA – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in A Feature Film – SHAYDA – Winner

AACTA – Best Casting in a Feature Film – THE STRANGER – Nomination

CGA – Best Casting in a Film – WE ARE STILL HERE – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in Film – THE STRANGER – Nomination

CGA – Best Casting in a TV series – BALI 2002 – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in TV Miniseries – MYSTERY ROAD – Nomination

CGA – Besting Casting in Comedy – PREPPERS – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in Achievement Casting – THE AUSTRALIAN WARS – Winner

AACTA – Best Casting in Feature Film – HIGH GROUND – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in TV Series – TOTAL CONTROL – Winner

CGA – Best Casting Comedy – BLACK COMEDY – Winner

CGA – Best Casting Drama – OPERATION BUFFALO – Winner

AFI/AACTA – Best Casting – TOTAL CONTROL – Winner

CGA – Best Casting – TOTAL CONTROL – Winner

AFI/AACTA – Best Casting – SWEET COUNTRY – Winner

CGA – Achievement in Casting – WRONG KIND OF BLACK – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in TV Comedy – BLACK COMEDY – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in Feature – SWEET COMEDY – Winner

CGA – Best TV Miniseries – CHOPPER

CGA – Best Casting in TV Drama – RAKE – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in Feature – HOUNDS OF LOVE – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in TV Drama – CLEVERMAN – Winner

CGA – Best Casting in Tele-Movie – THE PRINCIPAL – Winner

CGA – TV Drama – READY FOR THIS – Winner

CGA – Best Casting for TV Comedy – RAKE