Dennis Trillo hopes ‘Amir’ reminds viewers to value life
Because the film draws from real-life accounts and interviews with survivors, Trillo also hopes it serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering history.
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Because the film draws from real-life accounts and interviews with survivors, Trillo also hopes it serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering history.
Award-winning actor Dennis Trillo hopes his upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Amir will leave audiences with a greater appreciation for life while raising awareness about one of the country’s darkest chapters.
Inspired by the 2017 Marawi siege, the film follows a family’s struggle to survive the conflict, with Trillo portraying the father of the title character.
“Tatay niya ako doon. Siya ’yung title role (I play his father in the film. He’s the title character),” he told DAILY TRIBUNE.
The actor explained that the story centers on the experiences of a family caught in the tragedy.
“'Yung kwento nito ay ang nangyari sa Marawi siege at kung papaano siya at yung pamilya na nag-survive sa trahedya (The story is about what happened during the Marawi siege and how he and his family survived that tragedy),” he said.
To ensure authenticity, Trillo said the cast and production immersed themselves in research, watching documentaries and traveling to Marawi to better understand the experiences of survivors.
“Marami kaming documentaries na pinanood. Pumunta din kami doon. Tinignan namin 'yung lugar (We watched many documentaries. We also went there and saw the place ourselves),” he recalled.
For Trillo, Amir is more than a historical drama. He hopes it encourages viewers to cherish life after witnessing the hardships endured by the people of Marawi.
“Sana ma-realize nila ang pagpapahalaga sa buhay kasi grabe din ang nangyari sa kanila doon (I hope people realize the value of life because what happened to them there was truly devastating),” he said.
Because the film draws from real-life accounts and interviews with survivors, Trillo also hopes it serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering history.
“Kasi based siya sa true stories, sa mga interviews. 'Yung awareness sa mga pangyayaring ’yun na sana hindi na siya maulit ulit (It’s based on true stories and interviews. I hope it raises awareness about those events so they will never happen again),” he said.
Teasing the film, Trillo said audiences can expect a story grounded in reality.
“Exciting dahil totoong nangyayari talaga dito sa Pilipinas at makikita ninyo kung ano talaga ’yung hirap na pinagdaanan nila sa mga panahong iyon (It’s exciting because it is based on something that really happened in the Philippines, and audiences will see the hardships that people went through during that time),” he said.
Trillo also marked another milestone in his career after renewing his contract with GMA Network, extending a partnership that has lasted for more than two decades.
The contract signing was attended by GMA president and chief executive officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., executive vice president and chief financial officer Felipe S. Yalong, and officer-in-charge for the Entertainment Group and vice president for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, together with several network executives, program managers, and executive producers who have worked with Trillo throughout his 26-year career
The actor expressed his gratitude to the network for the opportunities that helped shape both his career and personal life.
“Gusto kong magpasalamat sa GMA sa lahat ng tiwala, sa lahat ng trabaho. Hindi ko makakalimutang talagang binago ninyo ang buhay ko, lahat kayo, lahat ng pagkakataon na binigay ninyo sa akin. At hindi lang sa akin, kundi sa mga tao sa paligid ko, sa lahat din ng mga natulungan ko. Kaya maraming salamat sa inyo. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang pagbabago ng buhay ko dahil sa GMA (I want to thank GMA for all the trust and all the opportunities. I will never forget how all of you changed my life through every chance you gave me. It wasn’t just my life that changed, but also the lives of the people around me and those I was able to help. Thank you very much. I will never forget how GMA transformed my life),” he said.
The contract renewal comes as Trillo continues one of the strongest runs of his career. His acclaimed performance in the 2024 film Green Bones earned him Best Actor honors from the Gawad Urian, The Eddys, Box Office Hero Awards and PASADO Awards. He also won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards, further cementing his reputation as one of Asia’s most accomplished actors.
