In honor of his late mother Guadalupe del Toro, Academy Award-winning director and producer Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) has decided to extend his ANIMEXICO scholarship for young animators for 10 more years.
“To honor my mother’s memory, I will commit to continue the ANIMEXICO animation scholarship for young animators for a full decade more,” del Toro posted on social media.
According to El Heraldo, the ANIMEXICO scholarship is supported by del Toro and Cinépolis and is for Mexican students interested in joining a two-year master’s program in animation at GOBELINS, a school of visual communication and arts, in Paris, France.
On Saturday (October 15) at the BFI London Film Festival, Guillermo del Toro revealed to the audience in attendance for the world premiere of his film Pinocchio that his mother had died the day before.
“I just want to say, my mother just passed away, and this was very special for her and me,” he said. “This is not only the first time you’ll see the movie, it’s the first time she’ll see the movie with us.”
He added: “I saw the film as a kid and it’s a film that bonded me with my mom for an entire life.”
On Monday (October 17), he thanked everyone online for the “beautiful DM’s, emails…that I’ve received” offering condolences for his loss and asked to be forgiven for not responding to everyone who reached out. “Not wanting you to think me ungrateful, I want to beg you to understand the rawness that impedes me [from] individual answers,” he wrote. “Much love, much gratitude expressed in my current silence.”
To apply for the ANIMEXICO scholarship program, students must have a bachelor’s degree in animation and first be accepted by GOBELINS. Students must also know English since that is the language the classes are taught. Scholarships will cover school enrollment and housing expenses.