Eoin Egan (Cinespace Studios), left to right, Guillermo del Toro, Miles Dale, Magali Simard (Cinespace Studios) are seen in this handout photo, at Cinespace Studios Marine Terminal Campus near Toronto鈥檚 waterfront, after del Toro received a key to the city from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on Thursday, July 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Sam Santos for Cinespace Studios (Mandatory Credit)
Eoin Egan (Cinespace Studios), left to right, Guillermo del Toro, Miles Dale, Magali Simard (Cinespace Studios) are seen in this handout photo, at Cinespace Studios Marine Terminal Campus near Toronto鈥檚 waterfront, after del Toro received a key to the city from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow on Thursday, July 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Sam Santos for Cinespace Studios (Mandatory Credit)
TORONTO - Toronto has handed Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro the key to the city in recognition of his affinity for making films here.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Mexican-born filmmaker with the ceremonial honour Thursday morning, saying his history of producing films in Toronto has created jobs and supports a local screen industry.
In accepting the key, del Toro said he loves Toronto and considers it 鈥渢he best place to make movies.鈥澛
The presentation took place at the waterfront Cinespace Studios, which says it's renaming four sound stages to pay tribute to the "Shape of Water" writer-director.
Del Toro says he's spent about half of his 30-year career making movies in Toronto, including 2013's effects-laden action film 鈥淧acific Rim鈥 and 2017's fantasy 鈥淭he Shape of the Water,鈥 which netted Oscars for best director and best picture.
Next up is his Netflix film 鈥淔rankenstein,鈥 featuring Jacob Elordi as the titular monster, which Del Toro says will be finished at the Toronto video production studio Company 3.聽
"Frankenstein" is bound for the Toronto International Film Festival in September.聽
鈥淚 have loved Toronto for so many years and I am very happy that it loves me back,鈥 del Toro said during the ceremony.聽
鈥淚t does not only exist as a great city for making film, but for celebrating film,鈥 he said.
This report by 春色直播was first published July 24, 2025.聽
Note to readers:This is a corrected story. A previous version misstated the release date of "Pacific Rim, "which came out in 2013.