Advisor Studio: Avy Kaufman (SUCCESSION) on Casting
About this Advisor Studio
In Advisor Studio sessions, Sundance Collab Advisors share field experiences and insights into their specific areas of craft, including writing, directing and producing for TV and film.
With three decades of experience and nearly 300 film and television credits, casting director Avy Kaufman has worked with some of the greatest visionaries of our time including Ang Lee, Robert Redford, Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, and Ridley Scott. Join us for a very special conversation as Avy takes us behind the scenes and into the world of casting. We’ll discuss how she collaborates with the director, finds talent, and approaches the audition process. We’ll also explore best practices for how to cast when resources are limited and budgets are tight. This vibrant conversation will give you a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most well-respected and sought after casting directors in the world.
Advisor StudioTeam
Avy Kaufman
Advisor
Avy Kaufman is a casting director based in New York City and a proud mother of two sons. She has worked with directors Ang Lee, Robert Redford, Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Ridley Scott, Luca Guadagnino, Wong Kar Wai, Cary Joji Fukunaga and many other respected directors on such acclaimed films and television shows such as A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LIFE OF PI, LINCOLN, PROMETHEUS, SHAME, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, CAPOTE, THE SIXTH SENSE, DANCER IN THE DARK, AMERICAN GANGSTER, MANIAC, THE NIGHT OF , MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN, THE ALIENIST and SUCCESSION. Most recently, Avy has worked on the upcoming projects DOG, KING RICHARD, THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, and Hulu miniseries DOPESICK.
In 2005, Avy was honored as Casting Director of the year at the Hollywood Film Festival and, in 2013, received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Subtitle Film Festival in Ireland. She was awarded an Emmy for her work on the HBO series SUCCESSION and the pilot of Showtime’s DAMAGES, and has received Emmy nominations for the HBO series' EMPIRE FALLS, THE NIGHT OF , THE LOOMING TOWER and MARE OF EASTTOWN.
In 2018, Avy was nominated for a British Independent Film Awards for AMERICAN ANIMALS and was the recipient of the Robert Altman Award for SUSPIRIA at the Independent Spirit Awards. She has also received several Artios awards from her CSA colleagues.
Avy is featured in Helena Lumme’s book GREAT WOMEN OF FILM and was honored with a place on Variety's 2018 New York Women's Impact List for her excellence in the field of film and television casting.