Adrian T. Trinidad, a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Communication, has won the following awards for his film, The Plague Dancer, during the Montañosa Film Festival in March 2022:

• Kidlat Gottlieb Kalayaan (KAPWA) Award
• Grand Jury Prize for Externalizing the Internal
• Grand Jury Prize for Externalizing the Internal for Michelle Dysangco
• Independent Cinema Award Nomination

Adrian considers The Plague Dancer as his most challenging filmmaking process which he calls as “pandemic film wars.” He says that these three words, when jumbled, create different meanings.

“It is hard to make a film in this time of the pandemic. I had to let go of several actors for the lead role during our virtual meeting for the pre-production phase. When we were shooting, we had to limit the number of actors. The universe smiled at us. I was thankful to have ‘slash actors’ because most of them were actors and/or production staff. And we were blessed to shoot, mostly, at indoor locations, by the grace of our sponsor. Every night, I thought of and felt the vibration of fate.”

He adds, “I will never be here if not for my staff and actors.”

Adrian always dreamed of becoming a Voltes Five until he reached the age of eight. But, in his own words, “due to hurtful Philippine economic scarcity and low statistical probability of attaining the dream,” he unconsciously wanted to become a film director instead.

Equipped with enough knowledge and skills in filmmaking, which he gained during his college years at UC, he continued making films outside the University as an independent filmmaker specializing in narrative films. His early films presented mythology, philosophy, uncommon love, death, horror, and the human psyche.

He was invited to be a creative consultant/ assistant director of a film entry for an independent film festival organized by CNN Philippines First Reel Filipina. The entry film was among the top finalists. He was also invited to be a Baguio Unit Production Staff for Darren Espanto’s Music Video.

Adrian is now a full-fledged filmmaker. He co-organizes Arte-Sine- a filmmaking and acting group in Baguio City that aims to spread the love for filmmaking and everything within the frame of making films. The group has co-organized with Re-Imagining Baguio: Ibag-iw Film Festival at the Balanghai ni Ikeng which gained traction to unite more filmmakers in the making.

“To this point, I rub my shoulder at night with hopes that my stories will reach a larger population. I always utter to myself: I am a filmmaker no matter how hard it is or will be.”