Guillermo del Toro returned to the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico to present a new 3D version of Pan’s Labyrinth, 20 years after the dark fantasy first screened at the festival in 2006. The filmmaker insisted that the conversion be completed without artificial intelligence, with every element painstakingly adjusted by hand. The anniversary presentation also brings the film to theatres in 4K for the first time, offering audiences another opportunity to experience the Oscar-winning feature on the big screen.
Del Toro’s appearance at the festival’s 24th edition drew an enthusiastic response, with crowds of fans greeting him like a rock star. His masterclass ran for nearly three hours, while an extended press conference gave him an opportunity to discuss the film’s lasting impact, its challenging production and the changes the world has undergone since its release.
The new 3D version was about more than updating the film for modern theatres. Del Toro wanted to preserve the human craftsmanship behind its images. Speaking about the conversion process, he emphatically declared that there was “absolutely no goddamn AI” involved.
The process required artists to work on individual elements by hand, carefully determining how depth should appear on screen. According to the festival’s coverage, more than 1,300 people worked on the conversion. Del Toro accepted the higher costs and longer production process because he believes artistic skills must be passed from one generation to the next.
“What we’re protecting is the beauty and the redeeming power of art,” the filmmaker said of his decision. His approach reflects the attention to detail that went into the original film, where the creatures, settings and visual elements contribute to the storytelling rather than serving merely as decoration.
The anniversary release from Cineverse and Fathom Entertainment brings Pan’s Labyrinth back to theatres in 4K, alongside the handcrafted 3D version and an HDR presentation using Barco technology. The HDR solution offers up to six times higher peak luminance. Del Toro oversaw each presentation, with the aim of bringing audiences closer to the film’s distinctive visual world.
Released in 2006, Pan’s Labyrinth follows Ofelia, a young girl living in Francoist Spain in 1944. As she confronts the cruelty surrounding her family, she discovers a mysterious labyrinth and encounters a faun who assigns her a series of dangerous tasks. Del Toro combines the brutality of the historical setting with fantasy, creating a story in which the imaginary world never fully escapes the horrors of reality.
The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography for Guillermo Navarro. It also received a record-breaking standing ovation lasting more than 22 minutes at the Cannes Film Festival. Looking back on the production during his appearance in Morelia, del Toro described the experience as financially horrifying but cinematically beautiful.
The filmmaker also acknowledged the people who helped bring the film to life. Producer Bertha Navarro, cinematographer Guillermo Navarro and lead actor Ivana Baquero joined him at the festival. Their presence underscored the collaborative effort behind a film that became one of the defining works of del Toro’s career.
The return to Morelia was also an emotional occasion. Reflecting on the two decades since Pan’s Labyrinth first screened there, del Toro grew tearful while discussing the state of society and the future being left to younger generations.
“It pains me deeply to see one, two, or three generations fail the next. We’re handing down a world in ruins,” he said, describing a world fractured morally, socially and spiritually.
His remarks added a sobering note to a celebration centred on a beloved film. They also connected with the concerns running through Pan’s Labyrinth, a story about violence, innocence and the struggle to preserve one’s humanity in a brutal world.
Twenty years after its first screening at Morelia, del Toro has returned to the festival with a new presentation of the film that preserves the craftsmanship behind its original images. The 4K and handcrafted 3D versions offer more than a technical upgrade, giving another generation the opportunity to discover a work whose visual storytelling continues to endure.