Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and screenwriter-director Aaron Sorkin received honorary doctorates Friday from the American Film Institute during the AFI Conservatory commencement ceremony in Hollywood.
The American Film Institute conferred 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 were presented during a private commencement ceremony Friday for the AFI Conservatory Class of 2026 at the TCL Chinese Theatre, according to organizers.
Del Toro was introduced by actress Octavia Spencer, while Sorkin was introduced by actor Bradley Whitford.
“Develop your own compass and trust it and, remember, the first person through a wall always gets hurt,” Sorkin told the graduating class. “Remember that you’re a citizen of this world and that decisions are made by those who show up.”
Accepting the honor, del Toro urged graduates to pursue original storytelling.
“Tell stories that matter to you. But more importantly, tell the stories that do not matter to anyone else. Those are the stories that need you. Those are the stories that would not exist if it wasn’t for you,” del Toro said.
Del Toro is an eight-time Oscar nominee who won two for directing and producing the 2017 film “The Shape of Water” and Best Animated Feature Film for 2022’s “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.”
His other credits include “Cronos,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the 2025 version of “Frankenstein” and “Hellboy.”
Sorkin won an Academy Award for writing 2010’s “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 joined 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.