Guillermo del Toro Surprises Fans at 'Pan's Labyrinth' 20th Anniversary Screening
Filmmaker makes a surprise appearance on his birthday, joined by Patti Smith, and shares his strong anti-AI stance.
Guillermo del Toro, the acclaimed director of "Pan's Labyrinth," made an unexpected appearance at a Times Square screening celebrating the film's 20th anniversary. The event coincided with del Toro's birthday, adding an extra layer of celebration for the attendees.
Adding to the surprise, punk icon Patti Smith joined del Toro to sing him "Happy Birthday." The audience expressed their delight at the impromptu celebration.
A birthday cake was presented to del Toro with the frosting message "No God Damn AI," a sentiment that reflects the director's well-known opposition to artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Del Toro has previously stated his strong aversion to using generative AI in his work, even suggesting he would "rather die" than employ it in his intricately designed films.
The cake also bore the inscription "Happy Birthday" with the number 20. Del Toro, playfully quipping about his age, remarked, "It says 20? I’m 62! I only look 20."
Following the screening and birthday festivities, del Toro and Smith reportedly went to dinner.
"Pan's Labyrinth," released in 2006, earned three Academy Awards in 2007. Del Toro's next directorial project is expected to be a stop-motion adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel "The Buried Giant."
Earlier this month, del Toro publicly defended Alejandro G. Iñárritu's film "Digger," criticizing a review that suggested audiences wait for its streaming release. Del Toro characterized the review as "petty," emphasizing that the film's scale, ambition, and cinematic complexity make it a "decidedly theatrical experience."