Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, author and former special effects makeup artist whose romantic dark fantasy film 'The Shape of Water' won the 'Best Picture' award and earned him the 'Best Director' award at the 90th Academy Awards. While the film also won two more awards and had a total of thirteen nominations, it was not his first film to win Oscars. He previously won three Oscars for another of his dark fantasy film, 'Pan's Labyrinth'. His other notable movies include 'Cronos', 'The Devil's Backbone', 'Blade II', 'Hellboy', and 'Pacific Rim' – all of which have dark fantasy or horror themes. He is the co-author of 'The Strain' book trilogy and TV series with Chuck Hogan, and has been credited for co-writing 'The Hobbit' trilogy. Prior to becoming a director, he worked as a special-effects make-up designer for ten years. He is good friends with two other prominent Mexican filmmakers, Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and they are collectively known as 'The Three Amigos of Cinema'.
