Guillermo del Toro to Receive Top Honour at 46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
Courtesy of The Critics' Circle. Photo Credit: John Wilson/Netflix
Guillermo del Toro will be honoured with the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film at the 46th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards on Sunday, 1 February 2026. The director and writer of Frankenstein will join a long list of recipients of the annual award, named in memory of legendary British film critic Dilys Powell. The filmmaker, writer and producer has left an indelible mark on global cinema, and the London Critics’ Circle are thrilled to celebrate his substantial achievements.
Del Toro shared, “Thank you to the London Film Critics' Circle. It's an honour to receive the Dilys Powell Award from a group I greatly admire and to join such an esteemed group of recipients. Working in this industry continues to be the joy of a lifetime.”
Since releasing his debut feature film, Cronos, in 1993, del Toro has captivated audiences worldwide with imaginative, memorable worlds and emotionally driven fantastical stories. He has won countless awards, including three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globes, notably winning the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion, an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Director for The Shape of Water.
Over the course of his career, del Toro has directed and produced numerous acclaimed films, including The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labyrinth, Mimic, Hellboy, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. His most recent film, a reflective, critically-acclaimed interpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, was released in 2025 via Netflix. In May, the BFI will award del Toro with their highest accolade, a BFI Fellowship, which recognises his extraordinary contribution to film.
Jane Crowther, Chair of the London Film Critics’ Circle, said, “We’re delighted to honour such a visionary director for his exemplary world-building and invention, which has provided escape, wonderment and comfort to our membership during his career.”
Recent recipients of the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film include Sandy Powell, Michelle Yeoh and Jeffrey Wright. Last year, the London Critics’ Circle awarded the honour to James Bond star Daniel Craig. The winners in all categories for the 46th annual London Critics’ Circle Film Awards will be announced at The May Fair in London on 1 February 2026 during a ceremony hosted by acclaimed critic Mark Kermode. Awards category sponsors include Abbey Road Studios, BFI Player, BritBox, Celtx, Cinemadix, Heaven Skincare, Hollywood Authentic, Regent Street Cinema, SeeSaw Media and WS Hair Pro.
The London Film Critics’ Circle is one of the oldest and most distinguished critical bodies in the UK and is part of the wider Critics’ Circle, which was established in 1913. The awards are voted on by 207 members of the Film section, who represent print, digital, broadcast and social outlets. The vast majority of Film Review’s roster of critics are members of the London Film Critics’ Circle, including executive editor James Cameron-Wilson, Mansel Stimpson, Michael Darvell, George Savvides and Wendy Lloyd. Films are eligible if they are released in UK cinemas or on premiere streaming services between mid-February 2024 and mid-February 2025. The awards have been presented annually since 1980. The film section is chaired by Jane Crowther, editor of Hollywood Authentic.
Previous winners of the The Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film:
1991 Dirk Bogarde
1992 Freddie Young
1993 Christopher Lee
1994 Richard Attenborough
1995 Wendy Hiller
1996 John Mills
1997 Michael Caine
1998 John Hurt
1998 Albert Finney
1999 Mike Leigh
2000 Richard Harris
2001 Charlotte Rampling
2002 Lewis Gilbert
2003 Tom Courtenay
2004 Ken Loach
2005 Bryan Forbes
2006 Leslie Phillips
2007 Julie Walters
2008 Judi Dench
2009 Quentin Tarantino
2010 Kristin Scott Thomas
2011 Nicolas Roeg
2012 Helena Bonham Carter
2013 Gary Oldman
2014 Miranda Richardson
2015 Kenneth Branagh
2016 Isabelle Huppert
2017 Kate Winslet
2018 Pedro Almodovar
2019 Sally Potter & Sandy Powell
2023 Michelle Yeoh
2024 Jeffrey Wright
2025 Daniel Craig
About The Critics' Circle:
Established in 1913, the Critics' Circle is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world, with more than 400 members who work in the UK media as critics of art and architecture, books, dance, drama, film, and music. Chaired by Rich Cline, the Film Section membership is made up of 200 UK film critics, broadcasters and writers, including the BBC's Mark Kermode, Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw, and Film Review’s Executive Editor James Cameron-Wilson. The awards have been presented annually since 1980. For further information, please visit: https://criticscircle.org.uk/
