The BFI has announced full details of its forthcoming Guillermo del Toro season, taking place at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX throughout May in celebration of del Toro being awarded with the BFI’s highest honour, a BFI Fellowship.
This includes eight in-person appearances by del Toro with three introductions, four Q&As at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX and an In Conversation event on 8 May as a centrepiece to the season.
The Fellowship recognises his “extraordinary contribution to film and the distinctive artistry that runs through his work across animation and live action”, including his most recent multiple Academy Award and BAFTA-winning adaptation of Frankenstein.
The BFI will award Guillermo del Toro his BFI Fellowship at the annual BFI Chair’s dinner, hosted by BFI chair Jay Hunt OBE, in London on 6 May.
The filmmaker will visit the BFI National Archive on 5 May to take a close look at the national collection and the work of archivists and conservators at the Conservation Centre.
Del Toro will share his passion for behind-the-scenes crafts and dive into the BFI’s Screencraft collections, including various original production and costume designs.
On 7 May, del Toro will also host a masterclass with students from BFI Film Academy.
A highlight of the BFI retrospective season will be a special public event following his BFI Fellowship bestowal, Guillermo del Toro in Conversation at BFI Southbank on Friday 8 May, where the filmmaker will be on stage to discuss his long and illustrious career. Following the In Conversation, del Toro will introduce a screening of his debut feature, Cronos.
On 9 May, del Toro will also introduce his Best Picture Oscar-winner The Shape of Water at BFI Southbank and have Q&As 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 for Q&As following screenings of Pan’s Labyrinth and an event celebrating his hit animated show Tales of Arcadia at BFI Southbank.
In the season, the BFI will also present the original and director’s cut versions of Mimic and Nightmare Alley and the subsequently released black-and-white version, Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light, plus two of del Toro’s early Mexican shorts, Geometria and Doña Lupa.
Finally, as part of the celebration of Guillermo del Toro, BFI Distribution is re-releasing Cronos (1992) in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 15 May, while other events in the BFI season will include a 25 and Under Introduction to Guillermo del Toro on 13 May, a Guillermo del Toro themed Quiz on 27 May and a special Guillermo del Toro Sip and Paint on 23 May.
More information is available on the BFI website.
