The BFI has unveiled full details of its upcoming GUILLERMO DEL TORO season. The events will take place at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX throughout May. This is to celebrate the filmmaker receiving the BFI Fellowship, the Institute’s highest honour. The programme includes eight in‑person appearances by Guillermo del Toro. He will feature in three on-stage introductions and four Q&As across BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX. The centrepiece is an In Conversation event on 8 May. The Fellowship recognises his extraordinary contribution to cinema. It acknowledges the distinctive artistry that runs through his animation and live‑action work. This includes his most recent multi‑Oscar® and BAFTA‑winning adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN.
Del Toro fuses fantasy, fairy tales, and politics. He combines deep humanism with a striking visual sensibility. He often explores gothic, horror, and fantasy worlds. In these worlds, protagonists question and defy authority. From his Mexican debut CRONOS, he has transitioned to international works like PAN’S LABYRINTH, THE SHAPE OF WATER, and GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO. He has become one of the most distinctive filmmakers of the modern era. He is equally at home in Hollywood and Spanish‑language cinema. He is deeply engaged in preserving Mexico’s film heritage.
Fellowship events, archive visit and BFI Film Academy masterclass
Guillermo del Toro will officially receive the BFI Fellowship at the annual BFI Chair’s Dinner in London on 6 May. The event is hosted by BFI Chair Jay Hunt OBE. On 5 May, he will visit the BFI National Archive and Conservation Centre. He will explore the national collection. He will discuss craft with archivists and conservators. This includes production and costume design materials from the BFI’s Screencraft collections. On 7 May, he will host a masterclass with students from BFI Film Academy. He will share insights into his process. He will also discuss his collaborative approach with the next generation of filmmakers.
A highlight of the season is GUILLERMO DEL TORO IN CONVERSATION at BFI Southbank on Friday 8 May. In this richly illustrated event, the multi‑BAFTA and Academy Award®‑winning director will discuss his career, influences, and working methods. Following the conversation, he will introduce a screening of his debut feature CRONOS. On 9 May, he will introduce Best Picture Oscar‑winner THE SHAPE OF WATER at BFI Southbank. He will also take part in Q&As following CRIMSON PEAK (BFI Southbank) and PACIFIC RIM (BFI IMAX). On 10 May, he returns to introduce FRANKENSTEIN at BFI IMAX. He will participate in Q&As after PAN’S LABYRINTH. There will also be an event celebrating his hit animated show TALES OF ARCADIA at BFI Southbank.
Cronos re-release and BFI Blu-ray
As part of the celebrations, BFI Distribution will re-release CRONOS (1992) in cinemas across the UK and Ireland starting 15 May. Press screenings will begin on 16 April. The film follows antiques dealer Jesús Gris. He discovers an ancient mechanical scarab that grants eternal life. It also inflicts aversion to daylight and an unquenchable thirst for blood. The film uses vampirism to comment on US‑Mexico relations and the nature of horror. CRONOS previously received a 4K restoration and BFI Blu‑ray release, supervised by del Toro using the original 35mm negative.
The season will screen both original and director’s cut versions of MIMIC. It will also screen NIGHTMARE ALLEY and its black‑and‑white variant, NIGHTMARE ALLEY: VISION OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT. Additionally, the season features early Mexican shorts, GEOMETRIA and DOÑA LUPA.
Full film line-up at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX
Curated by BFI Executive Director of Public Programme and Audiences Jason Wood and BFI Head of Cinema Programme Justin Johnson, the season will feature:
- CRONOS (1992) – An antiques dealer uncovers a mechanical scarab that bestows eternal life at a terrible cost. This discovery introduces themes of family, mortality, and vampirism. These themes recur throughout del Toro’s work. The short DOÑA LUPA (1985) screens on 15 and 28 May only.
- MIMIC + MIMIC: DIRECTOR’S CUT (1997) – A genetically engineered “cure” for a deadly virus mutates into a new horror. It foregrounds del Toro’s concerns about scientific hubris, childhood vulnerability, and the monstrosity of humanity itself.
- THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE (2001) – This story is set in a haunted orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. This Spanish-language landmark blends historical melodrama, mystery, and ghost story. It examines trauma and memory.
- BLADE II (2002) – A visceral, action-driven comic-book sequel. Vampire hunter Blade confronts a new super-vampire threat. BFI Southbank announces full GUILLERMO DEL TORO season to celebrate BFI Fellowship.
Fellowship, season dates and in-person appearances
The BFI has unveiled full details of its upcoming GUILLERMO DEL TORO season, taking place throughout May 2026 at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, to celebrate the filmmaker being honoured with the BFI Fellowship, the Institute’s highest accolade. The programme will feature eight in‑person appearances by Guillermo del Toro. These include three on‑stage introductions and four Q&As across BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX. Additionally, there will be a flagship In Conversation event on 8 May, which forms the centrepiece of the season. The Fellowship recognises his extraordinary contribution to cinema. It acknowledges the distinctive artistry in his work, both in animation and live action. This includes his recent multiple Academy Award® and BAFTA‑winning adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN.
A career defined by fantasy, politics and deep humanism
Guillermo del Toro blends fantasy, fairy tales, and politics. He unites a profound humanism with a striking visual sensibility. This unique combination has helped redefine genre cinema. He is closely associated with gothic, horror, and fantasy. Del Toro often focuses on characters who question and resist authority. They revisit the nightmares of the past to explore the traumatic passage from childhood to adulthood. After establishing himself as a major force in contemporary Mexican cinema with CRONOS, del Toro became one of the most distinctive filmmakers of the modern era. He is equally at home in Hollywood and Spanish‑language productions. He is a passionate collaborator with a keen affinity for actors. He combines critical acclaim with commercial success. He is renowned for his advocacy for animation. He is also known for his work in the restoration and preservation of Mexico’s cinematic heritage.
Fellowship ceremony, archive visit and BFI Film Academy masterclass
Guillermo del Toro will formally receive his BFI Fellowship. The event will take place at the annual BFI Chair’s dinner, hosted by BFI Chair Jay Hunt OBE in London. This event will occur on 6 May. On 5 May, he will visit the BFI National Archive. He plans to explore the national film collection. He will also learn about the work of archivists and conservators at the BFI Conservation Centre. Fresh from winning three BAFTA Awards and three Academy Awards®, FRANKENSTEIN is a testament. It highlights del Toro’s holistic artistic vision in areas such as Makeup and Hair Styling, Costume Design, and Production Design. It showcases his attention to craft across every department. During his visit, he will delve into the BFI’s Screencraft collections. This includes original production and costume designs. On 7 May, he will host a masterclass with students from the BFI Film Academy. He will share insights into his process with the next generation of filmmakers.
In Conversation, special screenings and Q&As
A major highlight of the retrospective will be GUILLERMO DEL TORO IN CONVERSATION at BFI Southbank on Friday 8 May. This is a richly illustrated public event. The multi‑BAFTA and Academy Award‑winning director will discuss his long and influential career. He will share his passion for film history. He will talk about his enduring commitment to animation. Following the conversation, del Toro will introduce a screening of his debut feature CRONOS. He will make an appearance on 9 May to introduce his Best Picture Oscar® winner THE SHAPE OF WATER at BFI Southbank. He will engage in Q&As after the screenings of CRIMSON PEAK at BFI Southbank and PACIFIC RIM at BFI IMAX. On 10 May, he returns to introduce FRANKENSTEIN at BFI IMAX. He will join Q&As after PAN’S LABYRINTH. There will be a special event celebrating his acclaimed animated series TALES OF ARCADIA at BFI Southbank.
Films in the season and CRONOS re-release
The season will include screenings of both the original and director’s cut of MIMIC. It will also feature NIGHTMARE ALLEY and its black‑and‑white version NIGHTMARE ALLEY: VISION OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT. Additionally, two early Mexican shorts will be shown: GEOMETRIA and DOÑA LUPA. As part of the celebration, BFI Distribution will re‑release CRONOS (1992) in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 15 May. It will include press screenings from 16 April. The BFI previously issued CRONOS on 4K‑restored Blu‑ray, supervised by del Toro. The season is curated by BFI Executive Director of Public Programme and Audiences Jason Wood. BFI Head of Cinema Programme Justin Johnson also helps curate it. This season showcases key titles like THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE, BLADE II, and HELLBOY. It also includes PAN’S LABYRINTH, HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, and PACIFIC RIM. The selection features CRIMSON PEAK, THE SHAPE OF WATER, and GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO. Lastly, it presents FRANKENSTEIN, many with special introductions or Q&As.
Guillermo del Toro Selects on BFI Player and special events
UK‑wide audiences will be able to engage with the celebration. They can do so via Guillermo del Toro Selects. This is an exclusive BFI Player subscription collection. It features 13 classic UK and international titles personally chosen by the director. Some of the films include EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960), NOSFERATU (1922), and VIRIDIANA (1961). Others are 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 across the UK from May 2026, running alongside the theatrical season. Additional events at BFI Southbank include a “25 and Under: Introduction to Guillermo del Toro” on 13 May. There is a Guillermo del Toro‑themed Quiz on 27 May. The Sip and Paint session on 23 May allows participants to create their own artwork. This artwork is inspired by del Toro’s famously illustrated notebooks, with acrylics and mini canvases provided.
Full details of Guillermo del Toro’s BFI Fellowship can be found in a press release here.
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