Guillermo del Toro will receive the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film at the 46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.
The Mexican filmmaker will be honoured at the ceremony on Sunday, February 1. “It’s an honour to receive the Dilys Powell Award from a group I greatly admire and to join such an esteemed group of recipients,” said del Toro. “Working in this industry continues to be the joy of a lifetime.”
del Toro has directed 13 features over 34 years, starting with 1992 indie horror Cronos. He received a best original screenplay Oscar nomination for 2006 Spanish-language fantasy horror Pan’s Labyrinth; then won best picture and director in 2018 for The Shape Of Water, for which he also received best direction at the Baftas.
del Toro’s latest film Frankenstein debuted at Venice Film Festival last year for Netflix. It is in the running in the current awards season, with particular acclaim for del Toro’s direction, Jacob Elordi’s supporting role as the creature, and multiple craft categories.
Nominations for the 2026 London Critics’ Circle awards were announced last month, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another leading the way with nine. Elordi is nominated for supporting actor of the year at the ceremony.
Jane Crowther, chair of the London Film Critics’ Circle, described del Toro as “a visionary director” whose “exemplary world-building and invention… has provided escape, wonderment and comfort to our membership during his career.”
Last year’s Dilys Powell award was presented to Daniel Craig, while previous recipients include Ken Loach, Judi Dench, Quentin Tarantino, Kate Winslet and Michelle Yeoh.
No comments yet