Dennis Trillo, ‘Saving Grace’ win 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards

Kapuso Star Dennis Trillo wins Best Actor for ‘Green Bones,’ beating Jacob Elordi and Park Bo-gum; Kapamilya Series ‘Saving Grace’ bags Best Adaptation.

“Can’t wait to get my hands on this one. This is for the Filipinos,” declared Dennis Trillo, who won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the 2024 prison drama “Green Bones” at this year’s Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA). 

Trillo bested 11 other nominees consisting of high-profile actors like Jacob Elordi of Australia, Park Bo-gum of Korea, and Vic Chou of Taiwan.

A Filipino triumph on the global stage

In a Facebook post, Trillo shared the good news, as well as the bad news of him not being able to attend the awarding ceremony in Singapore on Dec. 4.

He has likely received his trophy by now, but at the time, Gigi Santiago-Lara—GMA Network vice president for Musical, Variety, Specials, and Alternative Productions for Entertainment Group and Philippine Ambassador to the ACAA for 2025—accepted the award on Trillo’s behalf.

“[S]ayang hindi ako nagpunta para tanggapin ‘yong award,” Trillo said. “[Iyon] lang, binalita ko lang sa inyo, [good night.]” 

The Kapamilya series “Saving Grace,” an adaptation of the Japanese series “Mother” by Yuji Sakamoto, likewise bagged top honors. 

In another post, he shared photos of his trophy, the list of nominees with his encircled name, and Santiago-Lara holding his award.

“Napaka ganda…. Uwi ka na please. Thank you [ACAA]. Yeah Mabuhay,” he said. 

GMA Network senior vice president for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, one of the producers of “Green Bones,” also shared that she and Trillo were supposed to attend the awarding ceremony, “But life happened.”

“We figured in a roster of nominees that included Jacob Elordi and Park Bo-gum, what were his chances for the Best Actor award?” Valdellon wrote in a Facebook post. “In any case, the winner was just announced in Singapore. We got a photo of the trophy from the Asian Academy’s Philippine ambassador Gigi Lara … at nakakaiyak na wala si Dennis doon.”

Trillo’s portrayal of Dom Zamora, a criminal accused of murdering his sister and niece, also earned him best actor awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024, Gawad Urian 2025, and the recent 41st Star Awards for Movies.

‘Saving Grace’ wins Best Adaptation

“Saving Grace” won Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Scripted).

In a Facebook post, producer Dreamscape Entertainment gave a special mention to its “dedicated directors, production crew, creatives, and actors for their passion in bringing this story to life.”

“To Asian Academy, thank you for seeing the heart of our work,” it wrote. “This triumph is not ours alone, but for every Filipino whose story is one of fortitude, triumph, and healing. May our story be a source of inspiration as we share it with the world. Mabuhay and maraming salamat po!”

“Saving Grace” revolves around an elementary teacher, Anna, who abducts her student, Grace, who is suffering from child abuse. As they evade authorities and Grace’s mother, Anna realizes her need for healing.

It stars Julia Montes as Anna and Zia Grace as Grace. Other cast members include Sharon Cuneta, Janice de Belen, Sam Milby, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables, Eric Fructuoso, and Elisse Josson.

The 14-episode series premiered on Amazon Prime Video in January 2024, while a teleserye version subtitled “Saving Grace: The Untold Story” was released on Kapamilya Online Live, iWant, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5 last March. The teleserye version features uncut and extended scenes.

The AACA: honoring Creative Excellence

On its website, the AACA is dubbed the “Most Prestigious Awards For Creative Excellence.”

It honors programs and actors from 17 regions: Australia & New Zealand, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Awarding ceremonies are held every December in Singapore.

Here’s the complete list of AACA winners, as reported by Variety:

• Best Children’s Program – “Super Guardians: Polar Rescue,” Korea, ACOMMZ
• Best Animation – ”My Melody & Kuromi,” Japan, Netflix, TORUKU from WIT Studio
• Best Short Form (Non-Scripted) – “Diablo: Father Antonio Beyond The Veil,” Singapore, No Average Joe, Blizzard Entertainment
• Best Short Form (Scripted) – “The Lines in My Head,” Hong Kong SAR, Moonlight Entertainment, Kate Sullivan International
• Best Branded Program – “Monumental Macao,”
  Singapore, Warner Bros. Discovery & Rolling Earth Pictures
• Best Promo or Trailer – “Never Too Late,” Hong Kong SAR, Phoenix Satellite Television
• Best Documentary Program (One-Off) – “Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story,” Australia, In Films, Roadshow Films, Channel Nine
• Best News Program – “Cracking the Case: New Testimonies and Evidence in the Setagaya Family Murder,” Japan, Fuji Television Network
• Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Non-Scripted) – “The Traitors S1,” India, Prime Video, All3Media International, BBC Studios India Productions
• Best Original Production by a Streamer (Non-Fiction) – “It’s OK to Feel Bad,” Chinese Mainland, BILIBILI
• Best Documentary History – “Hiroshima’s Tower of Life,” Japan, NHK
• Best Cinematography (Non-Fiction) – Jam Yau for “Monumental Macao,” Hong Kong SAR, Rolling Earth Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Best Direction (Non-Fiction) – Rowena Loh for “Karikal Mahal: A Silent Witness,” Singapore, Ochre Pictures, Mediacorp CNA
• Best Infotainment Program – “Tech for Good: Robotics Inspired by Nature,” Korea, CNN Worldwide
• Best Game or Quiz Program – “SME S.W.A.T.,” Malaysia, Astro Malaysia
• Best Editing – Tanya Chhabria for “Black Warrant,” India, Netflix, Andolan Production, Applause Entertainment
• Best Adaptation of an Existing Format (Scripted) – “Saving Grace.” Philippines, ABS-CBN Studios, Kapamilya Channel, Prime Video
• Best Cinematography (Fiction) – Pei Ji-wei for “Black Tide Island,” Taiwan, Hakka TV, Go Inside
• Best Lifestyle Program – “Tokyo by Night,” Japan, CNN Worldwide
• Best Factual Presenter – Amish Tripathi for “Legends of Shiva with Amish,” India, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Best Documentary Series – “Addicted – The Synthetic Curse,” Singapore, CNA, Mediacorp
• Best Original Production by a Streamer (Fiction) – “Study Group,” Korea, CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, TVING
• Best Music Or Dance Program – “Singer 2025,” Chinese Mainland, Hunan TV & Mango TV
• Best Sound – Kunal Sharma for “Black Warrant,” India, Netflix, Andolan Production, Applause Entertainment
• Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology Episode – “Granny Must Die,” Taiwan, Hakka TV
• Best General Entertainment Program – “2024 MAMA Awards,” Korea, CJ ENM
• Best Theme Song or Title Theme – “Bebas” by Andy Gan, Afrah Athasha, Zalelo for “Korban Part 2,” Singapore, Mediacorp, Monochromatic Pictures
• Best Entertainment Host – Karan Johar for “The Traitors,” India, Prime Video, All3Media International, BBC Studios India Productions
• Best Non-Scripted Entertainment – “Muster Dogs Series 3,” Australia, Ambience Entertainment, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC Commercial
• Best Comedy Program – “Head Over Heels,” Korea, CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, Prime Video
• Best Screenplay – Tanida Hantaweewatana, Vasudhorn Piyaromna, Pattaranad Bhiboonsawade for “Mad Unicorn,” Thailand, Netflix, GDH 559
• Best Visual Or Special VFX in a TV Series Or Feature Film – Moonshine Studio for “Black Tide Island,” Taiwan, Hakka TV / Go Inside
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Hisyam Hamid for “Memori,” Malaysia, Creative Stew
• Best Actor/Actress in a Comedy Role – Jinny Ng for “Battle Of Marriage,” Hong Kong SAR, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB)
• Best Direction (Fiction) – Kazuya Shiraishi for “The Queen of Villains,” Japan, Netflix, KADOKAWA
• Best Feature Film – “MuMu,” Chinese Mainland, CKF Pictures (Ningbo), iQIYI Pictures (Beijing), Shanghai Tao Piao Piao Movie &TV Culture
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Ivory Chia for “Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story,” Singapore, Mediacorp
• Best Actor in a Leading Role – Dennis Trillo for “Green Bones,” Philippines, GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs, Brightburn Entertainment
• Best Actress in a Leading Role – Yuriyan Retriever for “The Queen of Villains,” Japan, Netflix, KADOKAWA
• Best Drama Series – “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty: To The West,” Chinese Mainland, iQIYI, Beijing Changxin Film And Media

 

 

Dennis Trillo was named Best Actor in a Leading Role for the prison drama ‘Green Bones’ at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) 2025, triumphing over international nominees including Australia’s Jacob Elordi and Korea’s Park Bo-gum.

 

 

READ: