Casting Masterclass - Shaheen Baig

As part of the Academy’s ongoing Casting Conversations programme of events, IFTA is delighted to present a Masterclass with Shaheen Baig, Emmy-winning Casting Director of Adolescence, Peaky Blinders, Notes on a Scandal, A Thousand Blows and more.

This masterclass will be moderated by Louise Kiely, Emmy-nominated Irish Casting Director of Normal People and The Banshees of Inisherin. At this Casting Masterclass, Shaheen will give insights into how she works with directors and producers to assemble a great cast across large-scale film and television projects; discuss the best process for acting talent for auditions, self-taping, chemistry tests; casting talent for breakout roles; subverting expectations with well-known actors; and much more.

This Masterclass takes place on Wednesday 3rd December.

About Shaheen Baig

During her prolific career, Shaheen has constantly discovered exciting new talent and cast for major film and television projects. She is the winner of an Emmy Award for Adolescence; a Casting Directors Guild Award for Boiling Point; a British Independent Film Award for Blue Jean; and was BAFTA nominated for Girl/Haji. She is known for having cast young talent including Florence Pugh, Tom Holland and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in their breakout roles.

Shaheen has been Casting Director on acclaimed television series including: Adolescence (Stephen Graham, Ashley Walter); Peaky Blinders (Cillian Murphy); Boiling Point (Stephen Graham); Alice & Jack (Andrea Riseborough, Domhnall Gleeson); A Thousand Blows; Toxic Town (Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood); The Death of Bunny Munro (Matt Smith, Sarah Greene); The Trip (Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon); Black Mirror Season 1 & 2; National Treasure (Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane) and The Third Day (Jude Law).

Her list of Feature Film credits as Casting Director includes: Notes on a Scandal (Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett); Lady Macbeth (Florence Pugh); The Impossible (Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland); Starred Up (Jack O’Connell); Ancestors (Éanna Hardwicke, Jessica Reynolds); Trespass Against Us (Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson); Free Fire (Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor); Calm with Horses (Barry Keoghan); God’s Own Country (Josh O’Connor); Supernova (Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci); The Nest (Jude Law); Scrapper (Harris Dickinson); God’s Creatures (Emily Watson, Paul Mescal); Anemone (Daniel Day-Lewis); The Thing with Feathers (Benedict Cumberbatch); Ali & Ava; Rose Plays Julie; 28 Weeks Later; Man About Dog; The Mighty Celt and much more. 

In 2023, Shaheen received the Royal Television Society’s Baird Medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to television and representation in England’s West Midlands.

She is a trustee of Open Door — a non-profit organisation that helps young people access drama schools — and co-founder of the Casting Assistant Certificate course with the UK’s National Film & Television School, with a deep commitment to supporting a more inclusive and accessible industry.

This masterclass is supported by Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme.