HighWire_17032023_Stills-56 (1).jpg

Casting for Film & TV

by Ajo Kacmar

In the press

''Ajo has an innate ability to understand the nuances of a character and match them with the right performers, bringing authenticity and depth to the onscreen portrayal''

Oscar Barby, Director  

Notable Talent

Dafne Keen

(Known for ‘Logan’, cast in ‘Driver’)

Aidan Gillen

(Known for ‘Game of Thrones’, cast in ‘Driver’)

Emily Carey

(Known for ‘Geek Girl’ and ‘House of the Dragon’, cast in ‘Stray’)

Isabella Wei

(Known for ‘1899’ and ‘Bridgerton’, cast in ‘High Wire’)

Tara Reid

(Known for ‘American Pie’, cast in ‘The Devil’s Dandruff’)

James Cosmo

(Known for ‘Game of Thrones’, cast in ‘Parallel’)

Shervin Alenabi

(Known for ‘Tehran’, cast in ‘HotHed’)

Aaron McVeigh

(Known for ‘Dept. Q’, cast in ‘Stray’)

Arifin Putra

(Known for ‘The Raid 2’, cast in ‘Parallel’ and ‘Graft’)

''Ajo was the casting director on my debut feature film. He was very patient with me and his optimistic approach helps ease the stress of making a film!''

Calif Chong, Director  

Casting Work

High Wire

Feature Film, Comedy-Drama-Family
Directed by: Calif Chong
Written by: Calif Chong, Jackie Lam
Starring: Isabella Wei, Elizabeth Tan, Dominic Lam, Nino Fernandez, Jose Palma
Release: 2026

A British-Chinese takeaway girl discovers artistic bravery and the freedom in forging her own path when a circus comes to her small English town. The film pays homage to the first and second generations of Chinese immigrants and their journey to adapt to life in England whilst facing issues of systemic racism and discrimination.

Driver

Feature Film, Crime-Romance-Thriller
Directed by: Patrick Ireland
Written by: Patrick Ireland, Jessica Romagnoli
Starring: Dafne Keen, Aidan Gillen
Release: 2027

A sexually-traumatised ex-con working as a driver for his pimp former cellmate forms an unlikely bond with a young prostitute, as they both try to escape the cycle of poverty, crime, and violence.

Stray

Feature Film, Thriller
Directed by: David Blair
Written by: Darren James King
Starring: Aaron McVeigh, Emily Carey
Release: 2027

A fatherless teenager is taken under the wing of the violent and manipulative local top-dog on his new estate, starting a struggle between his family, benevolent locals and this dangerous criminal for the boy's soul.

Invisible

Feature Film, Drama
Directed by: Robert Cavanah
Written By: Robert Cavanah
Starring: TBC
Release: 2027

A recluse running from his past and a runaway teen chasing her future form an unlikely bond that forces them to confront what they fear most.

Parallel

Feature Film, Horror-Thriller
Directed by: Matthew Tibbenham
Written By: Nathan Shane Miller
Starring: Arifin Putra, James Cosmo, Hannah Al Rashid, Iskandar Eaton
Release: 2026

The film follows a detective’s journey through the pain of losing his son. As he navigates through a small British community veiled in enigma and fear, a hidden portal to a parallel realm offers a chance at reunion, blurring reality as secrets unfurl.

The Haunting of Helen’s Bridge

Feature Film, Horror-Thriller
Directed by: Stephen Presley
Written by: Stephen Presley, Gemma Esau
Starring: Warren Hicks, Michelle Collins, James Jaysen Bryhan
Release: 2027

A cursed bridge lures a man into a deadly game, as the spirit of a woman who hanged herself there begins pulling him towards the same fate.

HotHed

Short Film, Comedy
Directed by: David Spring
Written by: David Spring, Stephen Pitt
Starring: Nimisha Odedra, Victoria Broom, Shervin Alenabi, Alexander Neal
Release: 2020

The fate of a young internet celebrity who becomes the fodder of an energy drink company interested only in increasing their profits. #faustian.

About

Ajo Kacmar is a London-based casting director and producer working across independent feature films and international co-productions.

His recent work includes casting the feature High Wire, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival 2025, starring Isabella Wei (Bridgerton). He is currently casting director on David Blair’s upcoming thriller Stray, attaching Emily Carey (Geek Girl, House of the Dragon) and Aaron McVeigh (Dept. Q), as well as the romantic crime thriller Driver, starring Dafne Keen (Logan, Deadpool and Wolverine) and Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones).

Alongside these projects, Ajo has cast talent including Tara Reid, James Cosmo, Shervin Alenabi, Michelle Collins, Arifin Putra, Sara Sandeva, and Jakub Prachar, working closely with producers to package films at an early stage and support their positioning for financing and international sales.

With a network spanning the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, and South East Asia, he works across both casting and production, contributing to project development, talent attachment, and financing strategy. His experience includes involvement in international co-financing structures totalling over $32M, including studio-backed franchise projects.

Prior to focusing on casting, Ajo worked in production and operations, including as Head of Operations at Peracals Productions, overseeing development across film, theatre and audio.

He is particularly drawn to character-driven stories with a strong social dimension, including a current feature project based on the life and work of scientist Dr. Colin Campbell, written by Academy Award winner David S. Ward (Sting, Sleepless in Seattle).

Testimonials

“I’ve been working with Ajo for over a year now on casting an independent feature film. Ajo’s dedication to the project is next to none, and his support & commitment across the entire casting process has been sublime. His ability to expertly liaise with high-profile cast’s representation - negotiate deals, facilitate auditions & readings - is superb. Professional, hard-working, creative, supportive and kind.”

Patrick Ireland, Award-Winning Writer / Director and Producer at ITV

“Ajo was the casting director on my debut feature film. He was very patient with me and his optimistic approach helps ease the stress of making a film! He also found me very good options for each character and was able to work in a tight timeframe. He is a good collaborator who listens and would take feedback with a great attitude. The casting on my film was not an easy one as it requires very diverse cast but he was able to work with me to make it happened!”

Calif Chong, Writer / Director

“I had the pleasure of working with Ajo Kacmar on the feature film "Parallel," which I directed and produced. Ajo demonstrated exceptional skills in assembling our cast, including securing the talented actor James Cosmo (Game of Thrones, Braveheart, Highlander), liaising with talent, and securing casting sessions. His dedication to finding the right talent and his ability to connect with actors, agents, and managers made a significant impact on the project's success. Ajo is a true professional in the field of casting, and I would highly recommend him for any production seeking top-tier casting expertise. Will definitely work with again on my next film.”

Matthew Tibbenham, Writer / Director

“I highly recommend Ajo Kacmar for his exceptional talent and expertise. His commitment to finding the perfect actors for each role in my feature film, Graft, was truly commendable and his balancing of that commitment with the understanding of the business of film was astounding. Ajo has an innate ability to understand the nuances of a character and match them with the right performers, bringing authenticity and depth to the onscreen portrayal.

Ajo’s attention to detail and meticulous casting process ensured that every actor selected was not only talented but also a perfect fit for the role and the film. Working with Ajo guaranteed a casting process that was efficient, professional, and ultimately resulted in a stellar ensemble cast. I have personally witnessed his dedication and passion, and I recommend Ajo Kacmar for any film project seeking outstanding casting direction.”

Oscar Barby, Writer / Director at Antagonist Studios