New York, USA — Ghanaian casting director Mawuko Kuadzi and CEO of MK Casting has won Best International Feature at the 41st Artios Awards, emerging at the top of a highly competitive global category and reinforcing Africa’s growing authority in international creative expressions.
The ceremony, hosted at The Edison Ballroom in New York on the evening of 26th February 2026, saw Mawuko Kuadzi prevail over strong contenders from Asia and Europe. The International Feature category included Kokuho, cast by Japan’s Masunobu Motokawa, and Sound of Falling, cast by Berlin’s Karimah El-Giamal. Kuadzi secured the award for his casting work on The Fisherman, placing Ghana firmly among the world’s most respected creative markets.
Organized annually by the Casting Society of America (CSA), the Artios Awards recognize excellence in casting across film, television, and commercial productions. This marks Mawuko Kuadzi’s second Artios win in consecutive years. The awards which was also held simultaneously at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, and the One Moorgate Place in London honored the best in originality, creativity and contribution of casting professionals to the overall quality of a film, television series, short form projects, theatre production and commercials around the world.
At the 40th edition last year, Mawuko Kuadzi made history as the first African ever to win an Artios Award since its inception, taking home Best Casting for a Commercial for his work on the NFL Super Bowl production Born to Play. That victory, linked to the NFL Super Bowl broadcast, carried symbolic weight across the continent.
Reflecting on his journey during his acceptance speech, Mawuko expressed gratitude to the CSA membership and organizers. “ I am deeply grateful to the Almighty God for this award. Thank you to the Casting Society and the Artios Awards Committee for this honor. Thank you to all the members who voted for me. Thank you to the Director of Fisherman Zoey Martinson for the opportunity to work with you and the entire Cast and Crew. God bless everyone who continues to open this platform to the voices from every part of the world. Your commitment to excellence and inclusivity gives professionals like me, working far from traditional industry centers, the opportunity to stand on a truly global stage.”
He added that the recognition should serve as encouragement to emerging artists. “If you put in the effort, remain faithful to your craft, and commit fully to excellence, even from the most remote corner of the world, your work can travel. The world will take notice.”
His first Artios win resonated far beyond the awards stage. The honor prompted courtesy visits to several African embassies in Ghana, where the achievement was celebrated as a continental milestone. He was also received at the United States Embassy in Accra, underscoring the diplomatic and cultural significance of the moment.
This year’s victory has already triggered another wave of recognition. Scores of congratulatory messages have poured in from across Africa, Europe, America, and the broader creative diaspora. Industry leaders, filmmakers, actors, and young creatives have taken to social platforms and professional networks to hail the win as a triumph not only for Ghana, but for the continent.
President of the African Chamber of Content Producers, Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, congratulated Mawuko Kuadzi on behalf of African content creators. “Mawuko’s achievement confirms that African storytelling is not peripheral to global cinema,” he said. “We commend the CSA and the Artios organizers for their impartial recognition of stories and voices from every region. This is how global standards are strengthened.”
Nana Dwomoh-Doyen added that Mawuko’s back-to-back wins have raised expectations for African casting and production quality. “He has set a benchmark. Young creatives across the continent can now see that excellence is rewarded, and that authenticity has value on the world stage.”
The Fisherman, which earned Mawuko Kuadzi his International Feature win, had already gained momentum on the continent, winning Best Ghanaian Film at the REFFA Awards and securing the Lead Actor prize for Best Actor in Africa. The Artios recognition now gives the project further global validation.
As Mawuko Kuadzi prepares for his next major projects in 2026, including Kismet to be shot in Nigeria, Echoes of Unity in Uganda, and the Africa Monologue Challenge scheduled for Ivory Coast, industry observers say the bar has been raised.
With two successive Artios wins, Mawuko Kuadzi has not only elevated Ghana’s standing in global casting but has also strengthened Africa’s claim to authentic, compelling storytelling. For many across the continent, his journey stands as proof that African creativity, when matched with discipline and vision, commands respect on the world’s most recognized stages.
