Director Guillermo del Toro will be honored with the prestigious Board of Directors Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) at the 40th Annual ASC Excellence Achievement Awards Gala on March 8th at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
“Guillermo del Toro reshaped modern cinema by treating the screen as a living canvas, depicting a world where beauty and horror share the same heartbeat,” said ASC President Mandy Walker. “A truly independent and original visionary, Guillermo continues to captivate audiences with his style and the visceral experiences he creates in his films.”
The ASC Board of Directors Awards champion cinematographers and recognize collaborators who advance visual artistry at the heart of filmmaking. Del Toro’s career spanning more than 30 years has been marked by imaginative storytelling and bold visual design. His debut feature, Kronos (1993), premiered at Cannes and won the Critics Award. He went on to direct acclaimed films such as The Devil’s Backbone (2001), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Mimic (1997), Hellboy (2004), Pacific Rim (2013), and Crimson Peak (2015).
In 2017, del Toro wrote and directed The Shape of Water, which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022), his first stop-motion feature co-directed with Mark Gustafson, won multiple awards, including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and a Producers Guild Award for Best Animated Film.
Del Toro’s latest project, Netflix’s Frankenstein (2025) starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth, continues his bold visual reinterpretation of the classic tale.
“We are honored to recognize Guillermo del Toro with this award,” said Chuck Minsky, ASC Awards Chairman. “His contributions to filmmaking profoundly elevated the medium, both narratively and visually.”
Past recipients of the ASC Board Award include Kathleen Kennedy, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Sofia Coppola, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Ridley Scott, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Christopher Nolan, Morgan Freeman, Francis Ford Coppola, Sally Field, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg.
Tuesday, February 10th
Noah Wyle named ICG Publicist’s TV Show Performer of the Year
Noah Wyle has been named the International Cinematographers Guild Publicists’ 2026 Television Show Person of the Year.
The honor will be presented at the 63rd Annual ICG Publicist Awards Luncheon on March 13 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The award recognizes professional impact, artistic excellence and showmanship cited by the guild for Wiley’s recent work on Warner Bros. Television and HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pit,” in which he executive produced, co-wrote, directed and starred.
Wiley was honored as both an actor and a producer after “The Pit” swept the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards and 2026 Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Actor and Top Drama Series. He also received two acting nominations for individual performance and ensemble work.
The actor first rose to fame as Dr. John Carter on NBC’s “ER,” appearing in 254 episodes and receiving multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Previous recipients of TV Show Person of the Year include Kathy Bates, Norman Lear, Quinta Brunson, Shonda Rhimes, and more.
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Announces World, North American, and U.S. Premieres
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has announced its full 2026 lineup, including feature and short films, including the Oscar-nominated animated short film “Butterfly.” The festival will be shown at venues across metro Atlanta from February 18th to March 15th, with select titles also available in AJFF’s virtual cinema.
Dedicated to showcasing diverse stories and strengthening understanding between the Jewish community and audiences around the world, the festival’s lineup includes 49 feature films and 16 short films from 20 countries. The festival will feature the world premieres of “My Friend Sam” and “Nuremberg 45,” and the U.S. premiere of “Proud Jewish Boy.” Films making their North American debut include “Abortion in the Holy Land,” “Stay Forte” and “Surviving Malka Leifer.”
A series of acclaimed short films, including “The Niggun,” “It Might Even Be Real,” “Dear Mom” and “Not My Weekend,” will also premiere globally, in North America, and in the United States.
“Each year, AJFF continues to evolve as a destination for filmmakers and audiences seeking films that engage both the current moment and history,” ATL Jewish Film Executive and Artistic Director Kenny Blank said in a statement. “Our 26th edition reflects the urgency of today’s global conversation and the enduring power of film to advance understanding.”
In addition to screenings, the festival will also feature featured guest appearances, post-screening conversations, and films that engage with pressing themes such as culture, world affairs, identity, memory, and community.
Wacom receives Ub Iwerks Award for longstanding contributions to animation at Annie Awards
Wacom was awarded the Ub Iwerks Award at the 53rd Annual Annie Awards in recognition of its longstanding contributions to the animation industry through digital pen and ink technology and its enduring role in the global animation community.
Wacom’s digital pen and ink technology and creative tools have helped artists incorporate hand-drawn expressions into their digital workflows, bridging traditional techniques and evolving production methods.
The Ub Iwerks Award, sponsored by ASIFA-Hollywood, celebrates technological advances that have had a significant and lasting impact on the art and industry of animation. The award recognizes innovations that have helped shape the practice of animation production and expand creative possibilities over time. Named after animation pioneer Ubu Iwerks, the award honors those whose groundbreaking work helped shape some of animation’s earliest iconic characters and continues to move animation forward.
