Guillermo del Toro and Aaron Sorkin to Receive AFI Honorary Doctorates

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro and American screenwriter Aaron Sorkin will be awarded honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees by the American Film Institute (AFI) at the AFI Conservatory commencement on 7 August. The ceremony will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and will honor the Class of 2026.

AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale praised the pair as “peerless, prolific creative forces at a time the world needs them most,” noting their contributions have inspired audiences worldwide. Del Toro, an eight‑time Oscar nominee, has won three Oscars—including two for The Shape of Water (2017) and Best Animated Feature for Pinocchio (2022)—and recently joined the Academy’s Board of Governors and the Academy Museum’s board. Sorkin, an Oscar winner for The Social Network (2010), is known for his work on The West Wing, Moneyball and Charlie Wilson’s War. The honorary degree places them among past recipients such as Mel Brooks, Clint Eastwood, Spike Lee and Viola Davis.