The University Council of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) recognized Guillermo del Toro with an ‘Honoris Causa’ Doctorate for his extensive film career, as well as for his contribution and support to the development of cinematography and other arts.
The ceremony took place this morning at the Palacio de Minería. Although the Guadalajara filmmaker could not personally come to Mexico City, he was invested at the headquarters of the UNAM in Los Angeles.
It is a unique honor. I think the ability to travel in creative spaces that are global is important as a Mexican, but always remember that your roots will never stop being in Mexico,” Del Toro said in his speech. “That is what makes this moving and personal moment because it comes from a university that has gone hand in hand in the deepest cultural life in Mexico.”
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What is the Honoris Causa?
The ‘Honoris Causa’ is the highest honorary degree awarded by a university to eminent persons. In the case of UNAM, it is intended for “national and foreign personalities, with exceptional merits, who have contributed to the development and enhancement of the sciences, humanities, art, pedagogy, letters and culture” (via) .
In addition to Guillermo del Toro, the other recipients of UNAM’s ‘Honoris Causa’ Doctorate in 2022 were the American philosopher Judith Butler; the spanish sociologist Manuel Castells; the american biologist Joanne Chory; belgian mathematics Ingrid Daubechies; the teacher in letters Maria Rosario Dosal Gomez; the Spanish academic Maria-Angeles Duran Heras; the mexican historian Javier Garciadiego Dantan; the designer from Jalisco Rafael Lopez Castro; the writer and teacher of letters Angelina Muniz Sacristan; biologist and professor Lourival Domingos Possani Postayand the Spanish jurist Ricardo Rivero Ortega.
Guillermo del Toro studied film at the Center for Research and Cinematographic Studies at the University of Guadalajara. He gained national and international recognition with his debut feature Chronos in 1993, which has been followed by 11 feature films that have established him as one of the most creative minds in contemporary cinema: mimic (1997), The Devil’s backbone (2001), Blade II (2002), hellboy(2004), The Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008); Pacific Rim(2013), the scarlet summit (2015), the shape of water (2017), The alley of lost souls (2021) and pinocchio (2022).
But beyond his work behind the camera, the Oscar winner has also established himself as an unconditional defender of the seventh art and a great promoter of new talents. In Mexico, for example, Del Toro teamed up with the Guadalajara International Film Festival to create the Taller del Chucho, a meeting and collaboration space for animation students and professionals. Precisely, his animators collaborated in his upcoming stop motion Inspired by the mythical fable of the puppet that comes to life.
pinocchio will have a premiere on November 24 in select theaters in the Mexican Republic; before joining the Netflix catalog on December 9, 2022. Learn more details HERE.
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