Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is an Academy, Golden Globe, and DGA Award-winning Mexican filmmaker, producer, and author. He first gained attention with his 1993 film "Cronos" and continued to build his career in a variety of roles, including as a make-up designer. He founded his own company, Necropia, in the early 80s, and later formed the production company, Tequila Gang. Del Toro also played a significant role in the film community as a co-founder of the Guadalajara-based Mexican film festival.

Del Toro's directing work spans a broad spectrum, including comic book adaptations such as "Hellboy," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," and "Blade II," as well as historical fantasy and horror films like "The Devil’s Backbone" and "Pan’s Labyrinth." Both set in Spain during or in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War under the Fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco, these films are among his most critically acclaimed. "Pan’s Labyrinth" received international acclaim, winning Academy Awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Makeup. His work on "The Shape of Water" earned him 4 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture, and a Golden Globe for Best Director.

Beyond films, del Toro has expanded into television with a multi-year deal with Netflix, where he has produced acclaimed series such as "Trollhunters," "3below," and "Wizards." He continues to influence the film industry significantly, as highlighted by his inclusion in TIME's "100 Most Influential People" in 2018. Del Toro is also the co-author of the vampire fiction trilogy "The Strain," with "The Fall," the second book of the trilogy, published in 2010.