“We’re excited to bestow our 2015 Distinguished Artisan Award on filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who constantly raises the bar and challenges the skills of our members to their utmost abilities when delineating his film characters,” said guild president, Sue Cabral-Ebert. “He has always shown strong support while working in collaboration with our make-up artists and hair stylists.”
One of the most respected filmmakers working today, del Toro has directed, written and/or produced a wide array of films and television shows. He has alternated between Spanish-language dark fantasy pieces, such as Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) and The Devil’s Backbone (2001), and more mainstream American studio movies, such as Pacific Rim (2013), Hellboy (2004) and its sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) and Blade II (2002). Pan’s Labyrinth won three Academy Awards, for cinematography, makeup effects and art direction, the BAFTA Award for best foreign film and more than 40 additional international awards. His newest feature film, the gothic romance Crimson Peak, starring Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Charlie Hunnam, will be released Oct. 2015 by Legendary Pictures and Universal Studios.
The successful television show The Strain on FX Networks is based on del Toro’s novels, The Strain, The Fall and The Night Eternal, an apocalyptic vampire trilogy co-authored with Chuck Hogan. He directed the pilot and is an executive producer on the series, which is currently in production on its second season.
Studying with Oscar-winning make-up artist Dick Smith, del Toro spent 10 years as a special effects make-up designer, forming his own company, Necropia. He also co-founded the Guadalajar International Film Festival and later formed his own production company, Tequila Gang.
Del Toro has produced such films as The Book of Life (2014), Mama (2013), Puss in Boots (2011), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Julia’s Eyes (2010) and The Orphanage (2007). Del Toro is credited as a co-writer of the screenplays for The Hobbit films – An Unxpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the latest, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. His future schedule includes Pacific Rim 2, which he will direct in the fall of 2015. Additional upcoming projects are At the Mountains of Madness, Kung Fu Panda 3 and How to Train Your Dragon 3, in addition to a stop-motion animated film based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, The Adventures of Pinocchio.
MUAHS Lifetime Achievement Awards will be bestowed on Oscar winner Rick Baker and Emmy-nominated Kathryn Blondell. Additional awards will honor nominees for outstanding achievements in motion pictures, television, commercials and live theater.
