Oscars 2018: Guillermo del Toro wins best director for 'The Shape of Water'

Guillermo del Toro has bagged the award for the best director at thethe 90th Academy Awardsfor hisfantasy film 'The Shape of Water.'

This was Del Torois a Mexican film director, screenwriter, producer, and novelist who received his first nominationas director at the Oscars this year making himthe third Mexican film-maker in the last five years to win best director.

Del Toro was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on October 9, 1964. In his filmmaking career, del Toro has alternated between Spanish-language dark fantasy pieces.

Del Toro got his first big break when Cronos (1993) won nine academy awards in Mexico, then went on to win the International Critics Week prize at Cannes. Following this success, del Toro made his first Hollywood film, Mimic (1997), starring Mira Sorvino.

His other prominent feature films include - Cronos (1993), Mimic (1997), The Devil's Backbone (2001), Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), Pacific Rim (2013), Crimson Peak (2015).

Del Toro's work is characterised by a strong connection to fairy tales and horror, with an effort to infuse visual or poetic beauty.He has a lifelong fascination with monsters, which he considers symbols of great power.Del Toro is known for his use of insectile and religious imagery, the themes of Catholicism and celebrating imperfection, underworld and clockwork motifs, practical special effects, dominant amber lighting, and his frequent collaborations with actors Ron Perlman and Doug Jones.

In addition to his directing works, del Toro is also a producer. His producing credits include films such as The Orphanage (2007), Julia's Eyes (2010), Biutiful (2010), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Puss in Boots (2011), Mama (2013), and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016).

The fantasy film The Shape of Water (2017) received critical acclaim and won a Golden Lion at the 74th Venice International Film Festival. Del Toro received an Academy Award for Best Director for the film, as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, and Directors Guild of America.