How to Get Auditions in Uruguay

Unions and institutions

Joining the union and getting to know the country’s film agency helps you hear about shoots and learn your rights.

SUA (Sociedad Uruguaya de Actores)

Uruguay’s actors’ union, founded in 1941. To join, they ask for a diploma or proof of studies and something that shows artistic work, such as your resume or three programs or press articles. SUA certifies members with the Ministry of Labor for the National Registry of Artists (Registro Nacional de Artistas) and gives access to the online casting of Valorarte, the cooperative it created with ADDU (Asociación de Danza del Uruguay, the country’s dance association).

ACAU (Agencia del Cine y el Audiovisual del Uruguay)

Uruguay’s film and audiovisual agency. It replaced the ICAU, the former national film institute, in 2023. It manages the Fondo de Fomento (development fund), the Uruguay Audiovisual Program and the incentives for shoots.

Where to study acting in Uruguay

Training counts in every casting and puts you in touch with directors and fellow cast members. If you’re just starting out, the guide to becoming an actor from scratch shows you what to study and how to build experience.

EMAD “Margarita Xirgu”

The public drama school of the Intendencia de Montevideo (the city government), with a 4-year Acting program and an entrance exam. Applicants must be at least 17 and have finished high school, and enrollment opens every December through the school’s digital registrar’s office.

ECU (Escuela de Cine del Uruguay)

The Escuela de Cine del Uruguay (Uruguay’s film school) offers a paid one-year diploma in Acting for Film and TV, for ages 18 and over, with an admissions interview. Every so often it also puts out free calls for actors, with or without experience, for its workshops on directing actors.

Film festivals

Directors, producers and casts cross paths at festivals, so they’re a good way to meet people in the industry.

Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay

Organized by Cinemateca Uruguaya. Its 45th edition runs from March 16 to 28, 2027.

Festival Internacional de Cine de Punta del Este

Founded in 1951 and organized by the Intendencia de Maldonado (the Maldonado departmental government), with free admission. Its 29th edition runs from February 20 to 26, 2027.

José Ignacio International Film Festival (JIIFF)

A festival with outdoor screenings in José Ignacio. Its 17th edition runs from January 23 to 31, 2027.

Websites and social accounts that post castings in Uruguay

These are the websites and accounts where calls for Uruguay show up. It pays to check them often, since many searches close within a few days. Before you register on a portal, see which casting websites are worth using and how to build a good profile.

• Castings on Casting and Acting: castings and auditions posted on the site, with a country filter.
• Casting agencies in the Uruguay Audiovisual directory: the sector’s official directory, with the contacts and credits of each agency.
• Valorarte: the profile portal of the cooperative run by SUA and ADDU.
• CastingsCineTV (Uruguay): gathers casting calls; in 2026 many come from Argentine agencies looking for Uruguayan actors, sometimes to shoot in Buenos Aires.

How to prepare for a casting in Uruguay

When a call comes up, the winner is whoever answers fast and with complete audition materials. Have this ready before you write to any agency:

• Acting resume on one page, with your details, measurements, training and experience. Guide: how to make an acting resume.
• Headshots with current photos of your face, profile and full body. You can put them together at home: how to take headshots at home.
• Reel with your best scenes or, if you don’t have any work yet, a one-minute intro video. Guide: how to make an acting reel.
• Self-tape for remote castings: front lighting, a plain background and good audio. More details in what is a self-tape.

Watch out for fake castings

Reputable agencies and production companies in Uruguay charge the people who hire them, not the actors: joining their database or going to a casting has to be free. Be wary if they ask you for money, intimate photos or to go alone, especially if you’re a minor. We explain how to recognize them in how to spot a fake casting call.

Several casting agencies offer paid workshops or classes. They are optional: their registration forms list no cost.

Frequently asked questions

Where are castings posted in Uruguay?

On the social accounts and forms of the casting agencies (Montecristo, Cimarrón, Doble Click and Agencia Jazz), in calls from Argentine casting directors such as Iair Said and on sites like CastingsCineTV. You can also check the castings section of Casting and Acting.

How do I sign up with a Uruguayan casting agency?

Montecristo and Agencia Jazz have online forms, and Montecristo splits them by profile: adults, extras, teens and kids. Cimarrón uses a registration platform. Upload current photos, your measurements and, if you have one, your reel.

What do you get from joining the Sociedad Uruguaya de Actores?

Besides union representation, SUA certifies you with the Ministry of Labor for the National Registry of Artists and gives you access to the online casting of Valorarte. To join, they ask for a diploma or proof of studies and something that shows artistic work.

Do foreign productions hire Uruguayan actors?

Yes. In 2024, 20 international productions shot in Uruguay, and the Netflix series El futuro es nuestro hired local artistic staff and extras. Many calls also come from Buenos Aires. For basic background work, experience is optional: we explain how to work as a background actor and what to expect on set.

Where can I study acting in Uruguay?

The public EMAD Margarita Xirgu has a 4-year Acting program with an entrance exam; the Escuela de Cine del Uruguay offers a paid diploma in acting for film and TV.

Do I have to pay to apply to a casting in Uruguay?

Reputable casting agencies charge the production company or the brand, not the actors. If someone asks you for money to take part in a casting, be wary; paid workshops are separate and never a condition for signing up.

List reviewed in October 2026. Contacts change: if an agency has stopped operating or you know one that is missing, let us know. For other countries, see the Latin America Casting Directory.