Guillermo del Toro has once again proven that he is a visionary director who is not afraid to speak his mind. At the Variety's 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch in Palm Springs, the Mexican filmmaker delivered a powerful speech that resonated with aspiring filmmakers and left many wondering what he meant by such poignant words.
According to del Toro, there is no need to listen when people tell you that art is not important. In fact, this notion is always a prelude to fascism, as it suggests that something as vital as creativity can be erased from society. Instead of ignoring the doubters, del Toro urges young filmmakers to stand up and believe in themselves. "Be kind, be involved, believe in your art," he advised.
When asked why some individuals might dismiss art as unimportant, del Toro offered a chilling explanation: it's often because they want to strip away everything that makes us human. He believes that this is what lies behind the growing sentiment that technology and social media can replace traditional artistic expression. "If it's that important, why do they want it so bad?" he asked, his voice laced with disdain for those who would seek to diminish our humanity through such means.
For del Toro, art has always been about creating something beautiful and meaningful that sets us apart from the mundane world of technology and social media. His own film, "Frankenstein," which he won a Directing Award for at this year's event, is a testament to this belief. The movie, released on Netflix in 2025, is an epic retelling of Mary Shelley's classic novel, starring Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth.
In his speech, del Toro also paid tribute to the director James Whale, who brought "Frankenstein" to life over a century ago. Del Toro described the film as a "religious experience," one that transcended time and continues to captivate audiences today. He was joined at this special event by Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara Karloff, marking a rare opportunity for del Toro to celebrate his heroes.
In an era where the world seems increasingly complicated and divided, del Toro offered words of wisdom that resonated with all who listened. "Sometimes the world gets so complicated," he said, "you can only explain it with the power of monsters." This sentiment was echoed by another honoree at the event, Dwayne Johnson, who received the Creative Impact in Acting Award for his roles in films like "The Smashing Machine" and "Jungle."
Ultimately, del Toro's message is one of hope and resilience. As he so eloquently put it: "Ambition includes failure – it's right next door to success." There are no numbers on the door; all that matters is that we have the courage to pursue our dreams and take risks in pursuit of something greater than ourselves.
According to del Toro, there is no need to listen when people tell you that art is not important. In fact, this notion is always a prelude to fascism, as it suggests that something as vital as creativity can be erased from society. Instead of ignoring the doubters, del Toro urges young filmmakers to stand up and believe in themselves. "Be kind, be involved, believe in your art," he advised.
When asked why some individuals might dismiss art as unimportant, del Toro offered a chilling explanation: it's often because they want to strip away everything that makes us human. He believes that this is what lies behind the growing sentiment that technology and social media can replace traditional artistic expression. "If it's that important, why do they want it so bad?" he asked, his voice laced with disdain for those who would seek to diminish our humanity through such means.
For del Toro, art has always been about creating something beautiful and meaningful that sets us apart from the mundane world of technology and social media. His own film, "Frankenstein," which he won a Directing Award for at this year's event, is a testament to this belief. The movie, released on Netflix in 2025, is an epic retelling of Mary Shelley's classic novel, starring Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth.
In his speech, del Toro also paid tribute to the director James Whale, who brought "Frankenstein" to life over a century ago. Del Toro described the film as a "religious experience," one that transcended time and continues to captivate audiences today. He was joined at this special event by Boris Karloff's daughter, Sara Karloff, marking a rare opportunity for del Toro to celebrate his heroes.
In an era where the world seems increasingly complicated and divided, del Toro offered words of wisdom that resonated with all who listened. "Sometimes the world gets so complicated," he said, "you can only explain it with the power of monsters." This sentiment was echoed by another honoree at the event, Dwayne Johnson, who received the Creative Impact in Acting Award for his roles in films like "The Smashing Machine" and "Jungle."
Ultimately, del Toro's message is one of hope and resilience. As he so eloquently put it: "Ambition includes failure – it's right next door to success." There are no numbers on the door; all that matters is that we have the courage to pursue our dreams and take risks in pursuit of something greater than ourselves.
. but seriously, i think he's right that when people dismiss art as unimportant, it's often because they're scared of being different or challenged. del toro knows how to tap into the power of storytelling and use it to make a point 
. his speech was all about embracing your creativity and not letting anyone dull your spark 
. and honestly, who doesn't love a good monster flick every now and then? 
... I mean, technology & social media can't replace a good ol' fashioned movie night with friends & family. When people say art isn't important, it's like they're trying to take away our humanity 
. Guillermo del Toro said it best: if it's that important, why do they want to diminish us? 
It's all about creating something beautiful & meaningful that makes us feel alive 
. I mean, have you seen "Frankenstein" lately? That film still gives me chills 
... it's like a work of art that transcends time 
. And let's not forget the power of movies to bring people together 
... in a world that seems more divided than ever, art is our common ground 
.
! Did you know that 75% of creatives report feeling pressure from critics and doubters? 
It's crazy how many people still think art is unimportant. Meanwhile, studies show that watching art can actually increase empathy and understanding by up to 23% 
. The stats are clear: art matters! 
That's like, what, a year?! We need more people like del Toro speaking out against the erasure of creativity.
The film's success is proof that art still has its place in today's world. Let's keep pushing boundaries and making something beautiful, fam 
I love how Guillermo del Toro always speaks his mind and inspires others with his passion for art 
Technology and social media can be great tools, but let's not forget the beauty of creating something real and meaningful with our own hands 
I'm so glad he gave a shoutout to James Whale and Boris Karloff too 
Their work is still making waves today!
. What's really gonna change when people stop listening to each other and just wanna "strip away everything that makes us human"? That's some pretty scary stuff 
. And yeah, I can get on board with his idea of using art as a way to express ourselves and connect with others... it's like, the more we appreciate our creativity, the less room there is for, like, actual hate 
.
. Like, isn't that just the most liberating thing? We're always told that we have to be so careful and calculated in our pursuits, but del Toro is telling us that sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith and risk everything for something greater.
he's so right about art being important & not getting erased from society 
like, who wants to live in a world where tech & social media are the only things we care about? 
that would be no life at all. i mean, del toro said it so eloquently but i think his message is really relatable to us all 
even though some people might say art isn't important or that it's just a waste of time, del toro knows that's not true & he's right to stand up for what matters 
the man is a genius in more ways than one. can we all just take a cue from del toro & remember that failure is just part of the journey to success? 
I'm low-key inspired by del Toro's speech 
. He's right, when people dismiss art as unimportant, it's often because they're trying to strip away our humanity 
. His message about ambition including failure is so true - we need to be willing to take risks and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones 
. Like, can't people just chill for once? It's not like we need some grand statement from him to make us realize that art is vital to humanity... I mean, come on, it's been known forever! 
And what's with the whole "you want to strip away our humanity" thing? Give me a break, del Toro! It sounds like he's just trying to stir up some drama and get people all worked up about something. The dude's got talent, I'll give him that... but sometimes less is more, you know?
i loved how he called out those who wanna diminish humanity through tech and social media - like, what's wrong with a little imperfection and uniqueness, right? 
anyway, del toro's "frankenstein" movie is literally my fave film of the year so far, and his tribute to james whale was so beautiful 
. Maybe instead of getting all worked up about what makes us human, we should be focusing on how our creativity can help us cope with the madness 
del toro gets it, hes all about creatin somethin that sets us apart from the noise of tech and social media 
i mean think about it, if u dont take risks and try new things, u'll never know what ur capable of 
anywayz, his point about people being afraid of art is super relevant right now