Montreal's Fantasia film fest to honour director Guillermo del Toro

Programmers at Fantasia InternationalFilmFestival have been tryingfor yearsto get Mexican film director Guillermo del Toro to attend the event in Montreal.

This year, he confirmed he'll be there just in time for the festival's 20th edition.

"I was extremely excited, being a fan for many years of the filmmaker. I think he's one of the most important voices in fantasy cinema right now," said Simon Laperrire, Fantasia's director of the festival's "Camera Lucida" section.

Del Toro is well-known for his films such as Pan's Labyrinth, the Hellboy series and his most recent movie released last year, Crimson Peak.

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"I was extremely happy because I felt a director of such importance agreeing to come [means] he knows the event and he wants to be apart of it. That is on its own an achievement," Laperrire said.

Del Toro will be giving a master class at the festival, marking his first public appearance in Montreal.

But he's no stranger to the city.

"When he was on a jury in Cannes last year, he became friends with Xavier Dolan, and we know that he went on his set," said Laperrire.

Other guests at this summer's festival will include Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, who will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award, and American musician Marilyn Manson.

The 20th edition of Fantasia kicksoff July 14 and runs until Aug. 2.