The Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM 2025) delivered a poignant tribute on Friday to the renowned Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro. The acclaimed director, screenwriter, and producer was honored with the Golden Star, presented by Spanish actress Maribel Verdú. During the ceremony, audiences were treated to a showcase of clips from Del Toro's extraordinary body of work, featuring films such as «Nightmare Alley», «Frankenstein», «Cronos», «Mimic», «Pinocchio», «Hellboy», «Blade 2», and «The Shape of Water». These excerpts underscored the depth of his imagination, the visual poetry inherent in his films, and his dedication to daring cinema, marked by a fascination with monsters, mythology, and raw emotion. In his speech, Del Toro expressed his gratitude for being honored by what he described as «one of the greatest festivals in the world». He praised Marrakech as a pivotal center for the film industry, a cherished destination for filmmakers of all generations, and a gateway to global cinema. Del Toro highlighted that the FIFM nurtures a spirit of camaraderie among filmmakers and serves as a platform where storytelling transcends industry challenges. He emphasized the festival's role in achieving the ultimate goal: crafting emotions and experiences that resonate universally, providing a haven where the human voice is embraced by a cinephile audience. Born in Mexico, Guillermo del Toro has carved out a niche with his unique visual style, seamlessly blending horror and fantasy. Since his debut feature «Cronos» in 1993, he has directed and produced numerous critically acclaimed films. Notably, «The Shape of Water» received 13 Oscar nominations and won three, including Best Picture and Best Director. His first foray into stop-motion animation, «Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro», co-directed with the late Mark Gustafson, earned the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. His latest live-action film, «Frankenstein», premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
