Today, Mayor Olivia Chow awarded the Key to the City to renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The ceremony, held jointly with Cinespace Studios, unveiled the renaming of the Marine Terminal campus sound stages as the “Guillermo del Toro Stages” in recognition of the director’s long-standing relationship with Toronto and its film community.
Toronto’s screen industry is a cornerstone of the city’s creative economy. With a workforce of over 40,000, more than 5,000 film and television businesses operating in Ontario, and world-class sound stages and visual effects (VFX) facilities, the sector generated $2.6 billion in direct spend in 2022.
Guillermo del Toro, a three-time Academy Award-winning director, has filmed several of his celebrated projects at Cinespace Studios in Toronto including The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, Cabinet of Curiosities and the highly anticipated Frankenstein. Over the past two decades, del Toro has helped cement Toronto’s reputation as a world-class centre for film production and has described the city as his “second home.”
Del Toro’s ongoing creative presence in Toronto has contributed significantly to the growth and global recognition of the city’s screen industry. By consistently choosing Toronto as a base for major projects, he has reaffirmed Toronto’s place as a top-tier production hub. His work has featured iconic Toronto landmarks, supported Canadian talent and created hundreds of jobs for local crew and craftspeople. Del Toro’s continued investment in the city helps build lasting infrastructure and creative capacity.
The Mayor awards the Key to the City to inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit and potential of Toronto, and who have contributed significantly to civic life. The Key to the City is Toronto’s highest honour granted by the Mayor to an individual or a group.
More information, including a list of past recipients, is available on the City’s Key to the City website.
Mayor Chow invites residents to share their suggestions for individuals they believe should receive the Key to the City. To nominate someone who has made a meaningful impact on Toronto, visit: www.mayoroliviachow.ca/keytothecity.
Quotes:
“Guillermo del Toro is a once-in-a-generation storyteller, director and filmmaker. From The Shape of Water to Nightmare Alley to the highly anticipated Frankenstein, he has consistently chosen to produce his award-winning movies in Toronto, supporting our city’s $2.6 billion film industry which employs more than 40,000 people. Today, we celebrate his contributions to Toronto and his films which have touched viewers from around the world.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“The renaming of these stages is a testament to Guillermo’s impact and deep ties to the local film industry, and his commitment to storytelling with his Toronto crew base. We are grateful to have been the production home for many of his projects in Toronto.”
– Eoin Egan, Co-CEO, Cinespace Studios
“Toronto has been a second home to me and my creative endeavors. To have my name associated with these glorious stages where my beloved crew and colleagues share both work and memories is an immense honor. I am deeply grateful to Cinespace Studios for this recognition, and to the Toronto film community for its unwavering support throughout decades of my career. ”
– Guillermo del Toro, Recipient, Key to the City
About the City of Toronto
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City's website or follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook.
About the Cinespace Marine Terminal Campus
Located on Toronto’s waterfront on the edge of the City’s Port Lands in the heart of the studio district, the Marine Terminal campus recently served as a production hub for Netflix. It features over 160,000 square feet of beautifully renovated production space, including four sound stages with a total square footage of 100,000, multi-use mill shop/support space, and production offices.
About Cinespace Studios
Cinespace Studios is a best-in-class global platform of production facilities that supports content providers and their creatives. The platform is one of the largest sound stage operators globally, with 116 active stages across Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Wilmington and Studio Babelsberg in Germany. For more information, visit www.cinespace.com.