Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro (born 1964) is a Mexican director, screenwriter, and producer, one of the most internationally celebrated figures of contemporary fantasy and horror cinema. He studied special effects and make-up with special-effects artist Dick Smith. He spent 10 years as a special-effects make-up designer and formed his own company, Necropia. He also co-founded the Guadalajara International Film Festival. Later in his directing career, he was a co-founder of the production company, the "Tequila Gang" together with filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, screenwriter Laura Esquivel, producer Berta Navarro and sales agent Rosa Bosch. He produced his feature debut Cronos in 1992 before moving between Mexican, Spanish, and Hollywood productions. He won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture for The Shape of Water. His acclaimed films include Cronos, Mimic, The Devil's Backbone, Blade II, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water, and Pinocchio.