A vacuum-assisted countergravity casting apparatus 10 includes a casting mold 14 disposed on a cheek mold member 28 and supported within a vacuum box 40. The mold 14 includes bottom feed gates 24 communicating with a cavity 22 within the mold 14. The cheek mold member 28 has distribution channels 30 formed in its upper surface 32 and includes a bottom ingate passage 34. A feed stalk 42 is connected to the ingate passage 34 for immersion into an underlying supply of molten metal 12. Actuation of vacuum pump 52 produces a vacuum within the vacuum chamber 46 and draws the molten metal upwardly to fill the cavity 22. Once filled, the mold 14 is pushed sideways on the cheek 28 by ram 68 causing the feed gates 24 to move out of registry with the distribution channels 30. The molten metal is thereby retained in the cavity 22 without assistance from the vacuum.