Janno Castillo

Biography

Janno Castillo began his creative journey as a theatre actor after completing his undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He immersed himself in the theatre community with a focused commitment to productions that advance social awareness, using performance and community engagement as tools for dialogue and change. His work consistently foregrounds political issues and social inequality across multiple creative forms, positioning art as a catalyst for reflection and collective action. Between productions, Castillo is an avid traveler and photographer with a deep interest in human connection. He values cultural immersion and believes that meaningful social interaction across diverse communities plays a vital role in personal growth and mutual understanding. For his undergraduate thesis, he produced and starred in Joshua Lim So’s Palanca Award–winning play Nawawalang Gabi, Ninakaw na Araw, which received the Best Play award at the Philippine LEAF Awards. The production was notably the only student work nominated and awarded in the category. Castillo also earned a Best Actor nomination at the same awards for his performance in the play. The production was later cited by Rappler as one of the best theatre productions of 2023. Alongside his continued work in theatre and film, Castillo made his directorial debut with Manimalay, which premiered at the Margaha Film Festival.