Guillermo del Toro to Appear at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX as BFI Fellowship Recipient

The programme celebrates del Toro as the recipient of a BFI Fellowship, the organisation’s highest honour, recognising his exceptional contribution to cinema and the distinctive artistry that defines his work across both animation and live-action filmmaking.

As part of the season, del Toro will make eight in-person appearances, including film introductions, Q&A sessions at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, and a special “Guillermo del Toro In Conversation” event on 8 May. The Fellowship acknowledges the director’s remarkable career and his singular cinematic vision, most recently reflected in his multiple Academy Award® and BAFTA-winning adaptation of Frankenstein.

Renowned for blending fantasy, fairy tales and political themes, del Toro’s films combine profound humanism with striking visual imagination. Closely associated with gothic, horror and fantasy traditions, his work frequently explores characters who challenge authority and confront the lingering nightmares of history, often reflecting on the transition from childhood to adulthood. After emerging as a leading figure in contemporary Mexican cinema with Cronos, del Toro has become one of the most distinctive filmmakers working today. Moving fluidly between Hollywood and Spanish-language productions, he is also celebrated for his collaborative approach, his affinity with actors, and his longstanding commitment to animation and film preservation, particularly in relation to Mexico’s cinematic heritage.

The BFI Fellowship will be formally presented to del Toro at the BFI Chair’s Dinner in London on 6 May, hosted by BFI Chair Jay Hunt, OBE. Ahead of the ceremony, del Toro will visit the BFI National Archive on 5 May to explore the national film collection and the work of archivists and conservators at the Conservation Centre. During the visit, he will also examine materials from the BFI’s Screencraft collections, including original production and costume designs connected to his work.

A centrepiece of the season will be the “Guillermo del Toro In Conversation” event at BFI Southbank on Friday 8 May, where the filmmaker will reflect on his career, creative process and influences. The event will be richly illustrated and followed by an introduction and screening of his debut feature, Cronos.

Further appearances include introductions and Q&As for several of his most celebrated films. On 9 May, del Toro will introduce The Shape of Water at BFI Southbank and take part in Q&A sessions following screenings of Crimson Peak at BFI Southbank and Pacific Rim at BFI IMAX. On 10 May, he will return to introduce Frankenstein at BFI IMAX and participate in discussions after screenings of Pan’s Labyrinth and a special event celebrating his animated series Tales of Arcadia.

The retrospective will also feature original and director’s cut versions of Mimic and Nightmare Alley, including the later black-and-white version Nightmare Alley: Vision of Darkness and Light, as well as two of del Toro’s early Mexican short films, Geometría and Doña Lupe.

As part of the celebration, BFI Distribution will re-release Cronos (1992) in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 15 May, with press screenings beginning on 16 April. Del Toro’s feature debut announced the arrival of a striking new cinematic voice. The film follows antiques dealer Jesús Gris, who discovers an ancient mechanical scarab that grants eternal life while creating an insatiable thirst for blood. Blending dark humour with themes of family and mortality, Cronos remains a defining work in the director’s filmography. The BFI previously released the film on Blu-ray in a 4K restoration created from the original 35mm camera negative under del Toro’s supervision.

Audiences across the UK will also be able to explore “Guillermo del Toro Selects” on BFI Player, a curated collection of thirteen films chosen by the director. The programme will include titles such as Eyes Without a Face (1960), Nosferatu (1922), Viridiana (1961), Memories of Murder (2003), Love and Death on Long Island (1997) and La Belle et la Bête (1946). The collection will be available to subscribers throughout the UK from May 2026.

Additional events in the BFI season include a “25 and Under Introduction to Guillermo del Toro” on 13 May, a themed Guillermo del Toro Quiz on 27 May, and a “Sip and Paint” session on 23 May inspired by the director’s creative notebooks. Participants will be invited to draw inspiration from del Toro’s artistic vision and create their own artworks using acrylic paints and mini canvases provided during the event.