Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and screenwriter-director Aaron Sorkin will receive honorary doctorates from the American Film Institute during the AFI Conservatory commencement ceremony next month in Hollywood, it was announced Friday.
The American Film Institute said it will confer Doctor of Fine Arts degrees honoris causa on the two entertainment figures in recognition of their contributions to the art of the moving image.
The awards will be presented during commencement ceremonies for the AFI Conservatory Class of 2026 on Aug. 7 at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
“Guillermo del Toro and Aaron Sorkin are peerless, prolific creative forces at a time the world needs them most,” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “From the vast nature of dreams to an incisive line of dialogue, their contributions to the art form have inspired audiences around the world — as they will inspire this year’s graduates of the AFI Conservatory.”
Del Toro’s credits include “Cronos,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Shape of Water,” “Pinocchio” and “Frankenstein.”
Sorkin won an Academy Award for writing “The Social Network” and also penned “A Few Good Men,” “Moneyball,” “Steve Jobs” and “Charlie Wilson’s War.” His television credits include “The West Wing,” “Sports Night,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “The Newsroom.”
The pair join previous AFI honorary degree recipients including Robert Altman, Maya Angelou, Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks, Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood, Spike Lee, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Quentin Tarantino and Michelle Yeoh.
The AFI Conservatory, founded in 1969, offers graduate degrees in cinematography, directing, editing, producing, production design and screenwriting.