Guillermo del Toro Set to Take Part in “Visionaries” Conversation at Toronto International Film Festival

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro will be sharing his vision…

The 58-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning filmmaker and author will be making a special appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

For this year’s 48th edition of the festival, del Toro is scheduled to take part in an onstage conversation as part of the Visionaries section.

del Toro, a three-time Academy Award winner, will focus his talk on the liberating potential of fantastical worlds; the magic thatexists within the details; and his wide-spanning career crafting intricate and cinematic love letters.

del Toro’s talk is made possible with the support of the Directors Guild of Canada.

del Toro’s award-winning projects include Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

Previously, T IFF announced that Pedro Almodovar, who is already receiving a tribute at the fest, would be taking part in a sit down conversation.

All the sessions for TIFF’s Industry Conference which spans the programming of Visionaries, Dialogues, Perspectives, Connections, Microsessions and Spotlights, will take place at the Glenn Gould Studio.

“Our Industry Conference aims to be a pivotal platform for thought-provoking discussions by industry leaders,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “The sessions and speakers reflect our commitment to diverse perspectives and creative exploration towards sparking innovation within the industry.”

“This year’s event offers something for everyone, whether you are an emerging creator or experienced
producer, and its scale and curation supports our growing industry attendance,” said Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry & Theatrical.

Here’s a look at this year’s Industry Conference participants:

VISIONARIES
Inspirational onstage conversations with individuals who are forging creative and business pathways in the industry. Speakers include:

● Spike Lee — An in-depth conversation discussing the process of forging a distinct filmic language throughout his expansive, multi-decade career.
● Ladj Ly — A discussion on his bold approach and unwavering commitment to telling stories that explore deeply personal portraits about communities revolting against broken systems.
● Guillermo del Toro — A conversation about the liberating potential of fantastical worlds; the magic that exists within the details; and his wide-spanning career crafting intricate and cinematic love letters. Made possible with the support of the Directors Guild of Canada.
● See-Saw Films — A celebratory talk on the company’s remarkable 15 years of delivering critically acclaimed stories to global audiences, including The King’s Speech, Lion, The Power of the Dog, and many more.
● Nadine Labaki — With more than a decade’s worth of accolades under her belt, director, writer, and actor Nadine Labaki will discuss her highly meticulous creative process, her devout interest in life’s peculiarities, and the capacity for cinema to bring about social change.
● Lucy Walker — A discussion on Doc Day, focusing on Walker’s incredible career, including her long friendship with Doc Society co-founder Jess Search, who died this summer. Programmed by Thom Powers.
● Anand Patwardhan — A talk on Doc Day with Patwardhan, a singular figure of independent documentary in India who has given inspiration to a flourishing of new directors today. Programmed by Thom Powers.

DIALOGUES
Conversations on the art and craft of storytelling, featuring screen-based creators (directors, producers, and series creators) and industry professionals. Dialogues sessions include:

● The Dead Don’t Hurt with Viggo Mortenson, Regina Solórzano, and Jeremy Thomas. Supported by Directors Guild of Canada Ontario.
● Feature Film Development with Sara Rastogi (Hoorae Media) and Kate Oh (Monkeypaw Productions).
● Directors Nora El Hourch (Sisterhood) and Katja Gauriloff (Je’vida). Programmed by Jason Ryle.
● Directors Cord Jefferson (American Fiction) and Lulu Wang (Expats).
● Producers Toufik Ayadi and Christophe Barral (Les Indésirables) and Farhana Bhula (How to Have Sex).
● Short Cuts to First Features with Fawzia Mirza and Andria Wilson Mirza (The Queen of My Dreams), Zarrar Kahn and Anam Abbas (In Flames). Programmed by Jason Anderson.
● What is the Documentary Marketplace Today? (Doc Day) A panel of industry figures analyze where opportunities still exist for creative documentaries. Programmed by Thom Powers.

PERSPECTIVES
Moderated and focused discussions on the current state and future of the industry. The Media Partner for Perspectives is Screen International. Perspective sessions include:

● AI and Film: Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Responsibility — Leading experts on AI discuss the technology’s long-term sustainability in the industry as it relates to data, ethics, and filmmaking. Programmed by Manal Siddiqui.
● The Current Landscape of International Series Production — Yi Qiao, Director Drama, ZDF; Navi Lamba, Head of Development, BBC Comedy; Jamie Lynn, EVP Co-Production & Distribution, Fremantle; and Joe Lewis, CEO, Amplify Pictures.
● Celebrating the Cinema of the Korean Diaspora — Guests include: outstanding filmmakers Anthony Shim (dir. Riceboy Sleeps), Albert Shin (dir. Disappearance at Clifton Hill, In Her Place), and Christina Oh (prod. Minari, Okja). Presented by The Korean Film Council.
● On African Cinemas and its Industries — Apolline Traoré (dir. Sira), Chioma Onyenwe (prod. I Do Not Come To You By Chance), Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri (prod. Death of a Whistleblower), and Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development & Partnerships, Realness. Programmed by Nataleah Hunter-Young, International Programmer (Africa & Arab West Asia).
● Seize Control of Your Distribution (Doc Day) — Peter Broderick, who has spent decades helping independent filmmakers design and implement cutting-edge distribution strategies, returns with a new manifesto, along with case studies of documentary projects that made far-reaching impact and profits using strategies to build sustainable careers. Programmed by Thom Powers.
● DOC’s “Getting Real” Report (Doc Day) — The Documentary Organization of Canada will share their findings for the first time and explain why this latest edition of their “Getting Real” reports could be a game-changer for documentary filmmakers. Programmed by Thom Powers

Guillermo del Toro Makes Academy Awards History Following “Pinocchio” Win

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro is celebrating making Academy Awards history…

The 58-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning filmmaker took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature during Sunday’s 95th Academy Awards ceremony for his adaptation of Pinocchio.

In the process, del Toro became the first person in the awards’ history to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Animated Feature.

During his acceptance speech, del Toro mentioned the following: “Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre. Animation is ready to be taken to the next step. Keep animation in the conversation”.

In Pinocchio, which was released on Netflix last year, Gregory Mann voices the titular puppet, who is eager to learn as much as he can about the world. After Geppetto‘s (David Bradley) son is lost during the war, the woodcarver spirals into a heavy depression, making him lose his job and his desire to enjoy the small things in life. After building a wooden puppet meant to represent the child he lost, the figure is given life by the Wood Sprite (Tilda Swinton).

Geppetto is given a new life himself, when he gets the opportunity to raise a kid who is very different to the one that came before him, allowing to gain a different perspective about the time he has left on this Earth.

COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Swinton also voices the role of Death in the film, as Pinocchio is sent to the afterlife multiple times throughout the story. In Del Toro’s version, Death is depicted as a Chimera with the face of a human, the horns of a cape buffalo, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. The voice cast of the movie also includes Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket, Christoph Waltz as Count Volpe, Cate Blanchett as Spazzatura and Ron Perlman in the role of Podestà.

Most of the star-studded cast had already worked with del Toro in other projects, with Pinocchio giving the actors the chance of a reunion with the filmmaker.

del Toro won his Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for his 2017 film The Shape of Water.

Starring Sally Hawkins as Elisa, the movie told the story of a mute woman who fell in love with an anthropomorphic amphibian creature (played by Doug Jones). Elisa comes up with a plan to help the creature escape from the secret government facility where he was kept, but the authorities didn’t want the being they considered a monster to roam freely in the outside world. After Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) shoots both Elisa and the creature, the amphibian man kills him and takes Elisa underwater with him. The woman is brought back to life, and they are implied to live happily ever after.

Elpidia Carrillo to Star on Netflix’s Upcoming Anthology Series “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Elpidia Carrillo is embracing the curiosities…

The 60-year-old Mexican actress and director will appear in Netflix’s upcoming anthology series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which is set to premiere next year.

Other cast members include Essie Davis, Luke Roberts, Andrew Lincoln, F. Murray Abraham, Glynn Turman, Ben Barnes, Hannah Galway, Crispin Glover, Demetrius Grosse, David Hewlett, Tim Blake Nelson, Sebastian Roché and Peter Weller.

Other cast members are to be announced later.

Meanwhile, Guillermo Navarro, Panos Cosmatos, Jennifer Kent and Vincenzo Natali will write and direct single episodes of the series, which has been retitled from Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight.

Production has begun in Toronto on creator, EP and co-showrunner del Toro’s collection of live-action stories that Netflix says is meant to challenge our traditional notions of horror. From macabre to magical, gothic to grotesque or classically creepy, the eight sinister tales — including two original works by del Toro — will be brought to life by a team of writers and directors personally chosen by the Shape of Water Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Additional episode directors include Ana Lily Amirpour, Catherine Hardwicke, David Prior and Keith Thomas, and writers include Haley Z. Boston, Regina Corrado, David S. Goyer, Lee Patterson, Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Mika Watkins.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is created and executive produced by del Toro and executive produced by Oscar winner J. Miles Dale, who also serves as co-showrunner, and Gary Ungar. Regina Corrado serves as co-EP.

Here’s the list of cast and creatives for Cabinet of Curiosities, along with the actors’ credits:

Essie Davis (The Babadook), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) and Hannah Galway (Sex/Life) star in an episode written (based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro) and directed by Jennifer Kent (The Babadook)
AmadeusOscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest), Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and Luke Roberts (Ransom) will appear in an episode written by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) (based on a short story by Michael Shea), and directed by David Prior (The Empty Man).
Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Elpidia Carrillo (Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Fear The Walking Dead) and Sebastian Roché (The Man in the High Castle) star in an episode written by Regina Corrado (Deadwood; The Strain) (based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro); and directed by Guillermo Navarro (Godfather of Harlem; Narcos)
Crispin Glover (River’s Edge) and Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone) star in an episode written by Lee Patterson (Curve) (based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft) and directed by Keith Thomas (Firestarter)
Peter Weller (Star Trek Into Darkness) stars in an episode directed by Panos Cosmatos (Mandy), who also writes along with Aaron Stewart-Ahn
Mika Watkins (Origin) writes an episode (based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft) directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight); with cast to be announced
David Hewlett (See) cast in an episode written (based on a short story by Henry Kuttner) and directed by Vincenzo Natali (Hannibal)
Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) serves as writer of an episode (based on a short story by comic book author Emily Carroll) directed by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night) with cast to be confirmed.

Guillermo del Toro’s Animated “Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans” Film to Premiere on Netflix in July

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro will be troll-ing Netflix this summer…

The 56-year-old Mexican filmmaker and two-time The Shape of Water Oscar has shared the release date and first teaser for his Netflix–DreamWorks Animation movie Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.

Executive produced by del Toro, the filmwill hit the service on July 21.

The film is set in the world created by del Toro in his epic Tales of Arcadia trilogy. Arcadia may look like an ordinary town but it lies at the center of magical and mystical lines that makes it a nexus for many battles among otherworldly creatures including trolls, aliens and wizards. Now the heroes from the Trollhunters series team up in their most epic adventure yet where they must fight the Arcane Order for control over the magic that binds them all.

The film features the voices of Emile Hirsch, Lexi Medrano, Charlie Saxton, Kelsey Grammer, Alfred Molina, Steven Yeun, Nick Frost, Colin O’Donoghue, Diego Luna, Tatiana Maslany, Cole Sand, Nick Offerman, Fred Tatasciore, Brian Blessed, Kay Bess, Piotr Michael, James Hong, Tom Kenny, Angel Lin, Amy Landecker, Jonathan Hyde, Bebe Wood, Laraine Newman, Grey Griffin and Cheryl Hines.

https://twitter.com/NetflixFilm/status/1387074059884634118

Johane Matte, Franisco Ruiz Velasco, and Andrew L. Schmidt directed from a screenplay written by Marc Guggenheim, Dan Hageman, and Kevin Hageman. EPs with del Toro are Guggenheim, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman and Chad Hammes.

CBS Films/eOne to Release Michael Garza’s “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” in August

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Garza is going Dark next year…

CBS Films/eOne’s feature take on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, starring the 18-year-old Latino actor, will open on August 9 next year.

From Oscarwinner Guillermo del Toro, who is co-writing and producing, the film is being directed by André Øvredal.

The movie centers on a group of young teens who must solve the mystery surrounding sudden and macabre deaths in a small town. The film is based on Alvin Schwartz’s young adult novel series, which del Toro has long been a fan of and owns ten of the books’ original illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

del Toro wrote with Daniel Hageman & Kevin Hageman, and the Shape of Water filmmaker is producing with Sean Daniel, Elizabeth Grave, Jason F. Brown, and J. Miles Dale.

In addition to Garza, who starred in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Wayward Pines, the film also stars Zoe Colletti, Gabriel Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint, Austin Zajur and Natalie Ganzhorn.

Netflix Orders Guillermo del Toro Horror Anthology Series “Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight”

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro is expanding his partnership with Netflix…

The 53-year-old Mexican filmmaker, the creator of Netflix’s Emmy-winning DreamWorks Trollhunters, is creating a live-action program on the Netflix.

The online streaming service has ordered Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight, its first original horror anthology series.

The series is described as a collection of the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s personally curated stories, described as both equally sophisticated and horrific.

The Shape of Water writer-director created the series and will write and direct certain episodes. In addition, he’ll handpick a team of top horror writers and new filmmakers to bring his selection of stories to life.

Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight is a Netflix production. The project extends del Toro and Netflix’s collaboration that began with the animated series DreamWorks Trollhunters, which returns May 25 for the third and final season. The Emmy-winning Trollhunters is the first installment of a trilogy dubbed DreamWorks’ Tales of Arcadia. The next chapter, 3 Below, debuts later this year followed by Wizards in 2019.

Del Toro’s The Shape of Water, which earned four Oscars this year, including Best Picture, Best Director for del Toro, Best Original Score and Best Production Design.

His previous films alternate between Spanish-language dark fantasy pieces, such as The Devil’s Backbone (2001), and triple Oscar winner Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), and American studio movies such as the vampire superhero action pic Blade II (2002), the supernatural adventures Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) and the sci-fi monsters-versus-robots film Pacific Rim (2013).

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Shape of Water