Guillermo del Toro Declares Art Can’t Be ‘Done With a F—ing App!’ as He Brings ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Back to Cannes After 20 Years: ‘The Second Worst Filmmaking Experience of My Life’
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- Guillermo del Toro presented a newly restored 4K version of Pan's Labyrinth at Cannes 2024, receiving a multi‑minute applause before stopping it.
- Pan's Labyrinth originally premiered at Cannes in 2006, earning a record‑setting 22‑minute standing ovation and later grossing $83 million worldwide.
- Guillermo del Toro called the film’s production the “second worst filmmaking experience of my life,” citing financing setbacks, on‑set mishaps, and post‑production challenges, second only to Mimic with the Weinsteins.
- Pan's Labyrinth received six Academy Award nominations, winning three for art direction, cinematography, and makeup, and was praised by Variety critic Justin Chang as a “richly imagined and exquisitely violent fantasy.”
- Ivana Baquero (joined by co‑stars Doug Jones, Maribel Verdú and Sergi López) attended the Cannes screening, underscoring the film’s enduring legacy.
Why it matters: The restored classic gives distributors and streaming platforms fresh revenue and cultural cachet, while del Toro’s warning underscores the need for high‑touch craftsmanship amid an industry racing toward cheap digital shortcuts.
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