Enzo Pineda has achieved another milestone in his acting career.
The 34-year-old actor clinched the Best Actor award at the 11th Emirates Film Festival (EFF) in Dubai on January 18, 2025.
Enzo received the award for his performance in the 20-minute drama-thriller short film As The Call, So The Echo, directed by Rusty Palacio Guarin, who took home the Best Director award.
During a press conference on January 22, 2025, Enzo expressed his gratitude for being acknowledged by the film festival.
He said, "Natuwa po ako [and] blessing na nabigyan akong pagkakataon na manalo po ng best actor for this film."
This victory marks Enzo's first international acting accolade, adding to his Best Supporting Actor award at the 2021 FAMAS for his role in Jason Paul Laxamana’s He Who Is Without Sin (2020).
ENZO PINEDA: BEST ACTOR WIN
Enzo felt a whirlwind of emotions after learning he won the award and mentioned that he wished he could have accepted it in person.
He told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Siyempre, mixed emotion, parang, 'Totoo ba ito?' Kasi I wasn't there. Pero I really wish I was there kasi busy po.
"So, I was supposed to be there for four days to enjoy and learn from the whole film festival experience."
Enzo added, "Sobrang blessed ako. Sobrang natuwa ako.
"At the same time, sayang, because iba pa rin pag nire-receive mo yung award during the event. Especially na abroad pa siya.
"So, I have yet to experience that. And hopefully po sa mga ibang film festivals may pasa po ang aming pelikula.
"At hopefully, finally, maka-attend ako sa film festival to receive the award. If ever po na mananalo po."
Enzo recounted that it was Aquino Plotado, the film's executive producer, who delivered the news about his victory.
He considered the win quite unexpected since their film was initially left out of the festival lineup and was later included.
Enzo said, "Our producer is from Dubai. So, siya po nagpasa ng project namin sa Emirates Film Festival.
"So, originally, alam ko, we weren't chosen to be part of the final list of competitors. Pero, I guess, siguro through prayer, nabigyan po kami ng pagkakataon ng makasali po dito.
"Sa totoo lang, makasali pa lang kami, happy na ako. And just being nominated out of so many films, okay na po ako."
Enzo also dedicated his award to the men behind the camera who collaborated with him on the project.
Continuing, he said: "I'm very proud of the whole team kasi I believe that no man is an island. So, it's still a team effort.
"Kumbaga, hindi lang sa actor yan, pero how the director and the team portrays my character as well.
"Kasi sila din nagsi-set ng mood, e. So, I can only do so much as an actor.
"And everything else, even the set, yung team na po yung bahala. And I'm just happy na everything fell into place at nanalo kami ng award."
ENZO PINEDA: CHALLENGING ROLE
Enzo considers In As The Call, So The Echo as one of the most challenging projects he has done in recent years.
In this film, he portrays a father entangled in a criminal syndicate that kidnaps children to sell their organs, only to find himself experiencing the anguish of those parents when his own child gets abducted.
Enzo expounded, "On the other side, isa po akong sindikato. So, I work for a syndicate that kidnaps kids and ends up selling their organs to interested buyers.
"On the other spectrum naman ay isa po akong mapagmahal na ama sa kanyang asawa at sa kanyang mga anak.
"Very protective po ako as a father. Very loving and kind.
"At alam naman po natin, mabilis naman po ang karma pag ikaw po ay gumagawa ng mga masasamang bagay."
Sharing more about his character, he elaborated, "So, what happened with my character, ending, yung anak ko naman, na-kidnap.
"At yung character ko pa ang unang nakasaksi sa pagpatay po ng kanyang anak.
"Kumbaga, nakawala kasi yung anak niya. Ending, nag-ring yung phone sa loob ng katayan nila. At, yun na yun. One of the most painful moments for my character."
Although his character is quite dark, Enzo wanted to portray this role to broaden his skills as an actor.
He explained, "Ako po kasi as an actor, I don't want to typecast myself in certain roles. I believe that acting is life. So, you shouldn't limit yourself into doing these type of roles only.
"So, kailangan explorative ka, kasi it's your chance to put yourself in other people's shoes."
More importantly, he viewed the film as a means to raise awareness about these issues, aiming to inform parents and families to better protect their children.
"Kaya ako, ginawa itong role ito because it's for a bigger cause. It's not just for, it's a dark character. 'Ang sarap i-portray. Napaka-complex, napakalalim.'
"Ginawa ko rin ito for a cause because ang daming nangyayaring ganitong issue sa Pilipinas na yung mga anak naglalaro lang sa kalye, ending, nawawala na, kinidnap na.
"So, it's also an awareness film na para yung mga parents natin, yung mga future parents, or even kung may apo ka, may pamangkin, ay mabantayan mo na maigi kasi anything can happen.
"Especially pag yung hinahayaan mo lang yung mga bata natin maglaro sa kalsada. At nangyayari't nangyayarit talaga yan.
"Ke mayaman ka or mahirap, maraming kidnapping po ang nagaganap. At kadalasan pa diyan, yung mga kababayan natin na less fortunate, sila pa yung unang biktima.
"Kasi bukas yung streets, hindi safe. So, mas madalas mo ang kidnapping po sa mga sectors nila."
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