The American Film Institute has appointed Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro as Guest Artistic Director for AFI Fest 2025, which will run from Oct. 22 to 26 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. AFI President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Gazzale called del Toro "one of the great champions of the art form" whose singular perspective "will inspire audiences of all generations." Del Toro joins a roster of previous guest artistic directors that includes Pedro Almodóvar, Greta Gerwig and David Lynch. The Mexican-born director will help shape the festival’s slate of red-carpet premieres, international features, documentaries and short films. His curatorial role coincides with the release of his long-gestating live-action adaptation of “Frankenstein,” which Netflix will open in select cinemas on Oct. 17 before a streaming debut on Nov. 7. The film is expected to screen at Venice and Toronto earlier in the fall, positioning it for an awards-season run.