Guillermo del Toro will receive The Cinema Audio Society‘s Filmmaker Award at the 2026 CAS Awards on March 7, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Credits of the Mexican-born filmmaker include Cronos (1993), Mimic (1997), The Devils’ Backbone (2001), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Hellboy (2004), Pacific Rim (2013), Crimson Peak (2015), The Shape of Water (2017), — which won best picture and best director at the Academy Awards — Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and his upcoming Netflix feature Frankenstein.
Previous honorees of this award include Denis Villeneuve, J.J. Abrams, George Clooney, Steven Spielberg, Joe Wright, Jon Favreau, Taylor Hackford, Jonathan Demme, Richard Donner, Rob Marshall, Edward Zwick and Quentin Tarantino.
“The CAS Filmmaker Award recognizes directors who understand the critical role that sound plays in film and television, and Guillermo embodies that appreciation at the highest level,” says CAS President Peter Kurland. “His films are defined not only by their stunning visuals and deeply human themes but also by their masterful use of sound to build atmosphere, suspense, and wonder. Guillermo’s collaboration with sound artists has elevated every story he’s told. We are thrilled to celebrate his contributions to the art form.”
Adds del Toro: “Audiovisual entertainment — telling stories with images and sound — well, it requires the most careful composition and exacting standards to deliver a memorable experience in every theatre and every home. It is an honor to be recognized by those whom I consider and value as my peers and my admired colleagues.”
The CAS Awards honor the outstanding achievements in sound mixing in seven categories. The Cinema Audio Society was founded in 1964.