HOLLYWOOD -- (SPW) --

Guillermo del Toro, award-winning director, screenwriter, producer and novelist, will receive this year’s Distinguished Artisan Award from the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (MUAHS, IATSE Local 706) at their Awards ceremony, as announced today by Guild President Sue Cabral-Ebert. The award will be presented to del Toro by well-known actor, director, producer and writer, John Landis. The black-tie gala will be held on February 14, 2015, at Paramount Studios Theatre. For a full list of 2015 MUAHS nominees, visit: www.local706.org

“We’re excited to bestow our 2015 Distinguished Artisan Award on filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who constantly raises the bar and challenges the skills of our members to their utmost abilities when delineating his film characters. He has always shown strong support while working in collaboration with our make-up artists and hair stylists,” said Cabral-Ebert.

One of the most respected filmmakers working today, del Toro has directed, written, and/or produced a wide array of films and television shows. He has alternated between Spanish-language dark fantasy pieces, such as Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and The Devil's Backbone (2001); and more mainstream American studio movies, such as Pacific Rim (2013); Hellboy (2004) and its sequel, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008); and Blade II (2002). Pan’s Labyrinth won three Academy Awards^® (cinematography, makeup effects and art direction), the BAFTA Award^® for Best Foreign Film and more than forty additional international awards. His newest feature film, the gothic romance Crimson Peak, starring Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Charlie Hunnam, will be released in October 2015 by Legendary Pictures and Universal Studios.

The successful television show The Strain on FX Networks is based on del Toro’s novels,The Strain, The Fall and The Night Eternal, an apocalyptic vampire trilogy co-authored with Chuck Hogan. He directed the pilot and is an Executive Producer on the series, which is currently in production on its second season.

Studying with Oscar^®-winning make-up artist Dick Smith, del Toro spent ten years as a special effects make-up designer, forming his own company, Necropia. He also co-founded the Guadalajara International Film Festival and later formed his own production company, Tequila Gang.

Del Toro has produced such successful films as The Book of Life (2014), Mama (2013), Puss in Boots (2011), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Julia's Eyes (2010) and The Orphanage (2007). Del Toro is credited as a co-writer of the screenplays for The Hobbit films – An Unxpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the latest, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. His future schedule includes Pacific Rim 2, which he will direct in the fall of 2015. Additional upcoming projects are At the Mountains of Madness, Kung Fu Panda 3 and How to Train Your Dragon 3, in addition to a stop-motion animated film based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, The Adventures of Pinocchio.

MUAHS Lifetime Achievement Awards will be bestowed on Oscar^® winner Rick Baker and Emmy^®-nominated Kathryn Blondell. Additional awards will honor nominees for outstanding achievements in motion pictures, television, commercials and live theater. Nominations for this year's Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards are available on www.local706.org. Final ballot on-line voting closes on February 10, 2015. Winners will be announced on February 14 at the Awards gala.

Further inquiries regarding the MUAHS Awards may be directed to Kathy Sain in the MUAHS Awards Office at 818. 295-3933, or via email. 

About the Distinguished Artisan Award
The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild’s Distinguished Artisan Award is given to those whose body of work in the film industry was richly enhanced by the consistent collaboration of make-up and hair styling artistry creating memorable characters throughout their career.

About Local 706
The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE, Local 706) was chartered in November 1937. Today, membership includes over 1,900 artisans in the entertainment industry worldwide. Local 706 members are make-up artists and hair stylists who have created the looks for Hollywood's most memorable characters and stars of stage, screen, television and now the Internet. The wide-ranging domains of these artists include feature films and television, commercials; "live" network television, all types of theatrical productions and Disneyland theme parks. Local 706 Members have created notable characters competing for Academy Awards^®, Primetime Emmys^®, Daytime Entertainment Emmys^®, Saturn Awards^®, BAFTA Awards^®, and many other honors for make-up and hair styling artistry including their own Hollywood Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards. The Local 706 Guild publishes The Artisan, a glossy quarterly magazine, and provides panels, workshops and training both for members and others interested in the field to foster a spirit of innovation in the craft. For more information, visit www.local706.org or follow MUAHS on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@Local706).

MUAHS Award Sponsors
Awards after-party courtesy of MAC Cosmetics. Spirits presented by Patron Tequila.

MUAHS Awards Media Sponsors
Variety and SHOOTMagazine/SHOOTonline

Contact:

Further inquiries regarding the MUAHS Awards may be directed to Kathy Sain in the MUAHS Awards Office at 818. 295-3933, or via email. 

Media:
Weissman/Markovitz Communications
Cheri Warner
Contact Cheri via email
818.760.8995

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