Dustin Celestino and the winding roads that led to his cinematic success [Video]

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Everyone’s in search of something beyond the surface whether it be happiness, purpose, or the meaning of life. Oftentimes in that pursuit, life steers us away from what we initially envision, guiding us off the beaten path.

Such is the case for acclaimed film director Dustin Celestino, who spent an afternoon with adobo Magazine to revisit the winding roads that brought him to where he is today.

Dustin has had an illustrious career in film. He’s won three Special Jury Awards — the first from the 2019 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival for Utopia and the other two from the 2023 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for Ang Duyan ng Magiting (The Cradle of the Brave) (The Special Jury Prize and the Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Acting). Along with his accolades, he’s been revered for his unconventional and refreshing style.

However, to understand Dustin as a filmmaker is to learn that he was a writer first. When asked how he …