The Orphanage, Bayona’s first feature-length movie, is Spain’s entry for 2007’s foreign language Oscar. It debuted in major U.S. cities last Friday and across the country in coming weeks. At home, the film broke the box-office record for a Spanish-language movie, grossing $35 million. It received 14 Goya nominations, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars and Bayona has been branded a young phenomenon by industry watchers. Del Toro said Bayona, now 32, impressed him over the years with his enthusiasm for learning the ins-and-outs of filmmaking and for his talent behind the camera. “It was wonderful to meet someone so young who dominated technical aspects and storytelling,” said Del Toro.