Guillermo del Toro Awarded Key to the City as Cinespace Dedicates Stages in His Honour

Cinespace Studios renames Marine Terminal sound stages to honour the acclaimed filmmaker’s decades-long impact on Toronto’s film industry.

TORONTO – Celebrated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been awarded the Key to the City by Mayor Olivia Chow, as Cinespace Studios officially renamed its Marine Terminal campus sound stages the “Guillermo del Toro Stages” in recognition of the director’s decades-long relationship with Toronto’s film community.

Toronto’s screen industry is one of the city’s strongest economic drivers, employing over 40,000 people across more than 5,000 film and television businesses in Ontario. In 2023, the sector generated $2.6 billion in direct spend, solidifying Toronto’s global reputation as a top-tier production hub.

Del Toro, a three-time Academy Award-winning director, has chosen Toronto as the backdrop and production base for several acclaimed projects, including The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, Cabinet of Curiosities, and his upcoming film Frankenstein. His continued investment in Toronto’s film sector has supported local talent, created hundreds of jobs, and helped build lasting creative infrastructure.

Guillermo del Toro honoured with Key to the City as Cinespace unveils the “Guillermo del Toro Stages”

News release: https://t.co/ylXA5xa33I pic.twitter.com/MfdeleFB3e

— City of Toronto 🇨🇦 (@cityoftoronto) July 24, 2025

The Key to the City is Toronto’s highest civic honour, granted by the Mayor to individuals who embody the spirit of the city and have made significant contributions to civic life. Residents can view past recipients and submit nominations for future honourees on the City of Toronto’s Key to the City webpage.

Quotes from the ceremony:

• “Guillermo del Toro is a once-in-a-generation storyteller, director and filmmaker… Today, we celebrate his contributions to Toronto and his films which have touched viewers from around the world,” said Mayor Olivia Chow.

• “The renaming of these stages is a testament to Guillermo’s impact and deep ties to the local film industry… We are grateful to have been the production home for many of his projects in Toronto,” said Eoin Egan, Co-CEO, Cinespace Studios.

• “Toronto has been a second home to me and my creative endeavors… To have my name associated with these glorious stages… is an immense honor,” said Guillermo del Toro, recipient of the Key to the City.

The Cinespace Marine Terminal Campus, located on Toronto’s waterfront, features over 160,000 square feet of production space, including four sound stages totaling 100,000 square feet, a multi-use mill shop, and production offices. It has recently served as a hub for Netflix productions.

For more information about Cinespace Studios, visit www.cinespace.com. To nominate someone for the Key to the City, visit mayoroliviachow.ca/keytothecity.

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