The Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has shared valuable advice for aspiring filmmakers. While attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival, he urged up-and-coming creators to ignore naysayers who claim that “art is not important,” explaining that such sentiments are “always a prelude to fascism.”
Del Toro received the directing honor at the 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch during the film festival, as reported by ‘Variety.’
He emphasized, “Be kind, be involved, believe in your art. At a time when people tell you art is not important, that is always the prelude to fascism. When they tell you it doesn’t matter, when they tell you a fucking app can do art, you say, if it’s that important, why the fuck do they want it so bad? The answer is because they think they can debase everything that makes us a little better, a little more human. And that, in my book, and in my life, includes monsters.”
In the same speech, he reflected on the “religious experience” of watching James Whale’s 1931 ‘Frankenstein’ for the first time.
According to ‘Variety’, Sara Karloff, the daughter of the original ‘Frankenstein’ star Boris Karloff, was a guest at the event.
Del Toro further noted, “Sometimes the world gets so complicated, you can only explain it with the power of monsters. We are in a time like that right now. It’s not just the size of the screens, it’s the size of the idea. Ambition includes failure, it’s right next door to success. There are no numbers on the door. You’re going to knock on that door, and it’s going to open, and it’s either a supermodel of your dreams or your mom in curlers.”
‘Frankenstein’ is slated for release on Netflix on October 17, 2025.