CinemaBravo

Kapamilya actor Enzo Pineda proudly took home the Best Actor award at the 11th Emirates Film Festival, held on January 18, 2025, at the Emirates Training Academy in Dubai, UAE.

His acclaimed performance in the film As The Call, So The Echo earned him this prestigious recognition. The movie, written and directed by Filipino filmmaker Rusty Palacio Guarin, also won Best Director at the festival.

“I feel blessed and lucky to have been honored in a globally renowned film festival!” Enzo shared upon receiving the award. “This award is for all our Filipino brothers in the film industry.”

“No man is an island, and it’s always a collective effort when it comes to creating award-winning projects. I’m thankful for the guidance of our director and scriptwriter, Direk Rusty. This award is for the whole team that worked on the movie.”

In “As The Call, So The Echo,” Enzo’s character is part of a syndicate that kidnaps kids and sells their organs to interested buyers. Eventually towards the end, the main character gets his karmic retribution.

“The movie was intended to be shown abroad and eventually locally here in our country. It was shot in District 6, Quezon City. We had three shooting days. It was a predominantly Filipino cast,” he adds.

Arnold Vegafria, Enzo’s manager, immediately sent his congratulatory greetings upon learning of the good news. 

Vegafria remarked, “It’s amazing how Enzo has leveled up his acting to earn global critical acclaim! I’m very proud of him! I hope this will also be a positive sign for our world-class writers and directors to keep on doing their best to wave our flag proudly in international film festivals, for the upliftment of Filipino films and our local industry as well.”

Enzo earned his very first acting award in 2021, when he won the 2021 FAMAS Best Supporting Actor award for the movie, “He Who Is Without Sin.”

“As The Call” marks Enzo’s very first collaboration with Guarin. With its critical success, could a sequel be in the offing soon? 

Enzo says, “I’m not sure if Direk is eyeing a sequel, but even just for this one, I consider it an honor to work with a brilliant writer-director like him.”

Because of its recent harvest of awards, “As The Call, So The Echo” has lately aroused the curiosity of local film buffs, who are most likely to create more buzz not just because of Enzo’s and his director’s triumph, but also because of the film’s relevant and controversial theme.

Taking time off from his showbiz projects, Enzo is currently campaigning for councilor in Quezon City’s fifth district.