Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Edwin A. Santos is an actor,

producer, and founder of the Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel.

His acting credits include the award-winning 2024 short film, “To

Be With You,” the feature films “Blue Dream” (2013), “Girl Lost: A

Hollywood Story” (2020), “The Monsters Without” (2021), and

after receiving a 95% "Funny" rating with 100,000+ views on

Funny Or Die, “A Getting Laid Getaway” (2015) which he also

wrote, directed and produced.

His other producing credits include the award-winning feature film,

“Mad Cowgirl” (2006) starring James Duval (“Donnie Darko”),

“Violent Blue” (2011) starring Nick Mancuso (“Under Siege”), the

“Samurai Cop” Blu-ray featurette (2014) with Rob Schrab (“Rick

and Morty”), and the podcast interview series “Artists, Creatives &

Business” (2020–2021) with guests Anthony Francisco, Tia

Carrere, Dean Devlin, Princess Punzalan, Chris Grun, Ramona S.

Diaz, PJ Raval, Janet Nepales, Fritz Friedman, Grace Moss,

Bobby Pontillas, etc. for the Filipino American Chamber of

Commerce of Hollywood.

In 2005, Edwin expanded his film producing skills when he joined

Cinema Epoch in marketing and acquisitions. He worked in

foreign sales for the film distribution company at the American

Pavilion during the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival and

the annual American Film Market. He continued to produce and

acquire films for the company until 2019.

After observing the lack of Filipino representation in film and

television in front of the camera, Edwin founded the Filipino

Hollywood Actors Panel in 1998. It is a panel discussion and

networking fundraising event held annually since 2015. It features

special industry guest panelists who represent the craft and

business of acting across the board while shining a spotlight on

North American Filipino actors in Hollywood today. Previous guest

panelists include actors Jon Jon Briones, Ginger Gonzaga, Eric

Bauza, Sam Morelos, Manny Jacinto, Martha Millan, Nico Santos,

Ashley Argota Torres, Eugene Cordero, Ratana, Reggie Lee,

Angela Relucio, JB Tadena, talent agent Janet Tscha, and

Hollywood Actors Panel in 1998. It is a panel discussion and

networking fundraising event held annually since 2015. It features

special industry guest panelists who represent the craft and

business of acting across the board while shining a spotlight on

North American Filipino actors in Hollywood today. Previous guest

panelists include actors Jon Jon Briones, Ginger Gonzaga, Eric

Bauza, Sam Morelos, Manny Jacinto, Martha Millan, Nico Santos,

Ashley Argota Torres, Eugene Cordero, Ratana, Reggie Lee,

Angela Relucio, JB Tadena, talent agent Janet Tscha, and

casting director for Clint Eastwood films Geoffrey Miclat. Also,

actor-turned-producer/showrunner Amanda Joy (“Second Jen”)

and Sumalee Montano (“The Deal,” “One Big Happy Family”) who

both have cast Filipino actors in their mainstream film and weekly

television projects, just to name a few. 2025 celebrated its tenth

anniversary.

In 1993, Edwin earned his Bachelor-In-Arts Degree in Radio,

Television & Film at California State University, Northridge

(CSUN). He was also an honorary recipient of the Catherine

Clymer Scholarship Award from the Alliance for Women in Media

as well as an honorary recipient of the Educational Equity Award

for Outstanding Service presented by the School of Cinema &

Television Arts of California-State University, Northridge. In 2018,

he was recognized with an Independent Community Arts Award

on the Long Beach Acting & Film Association’s Asian In

Hollywood Panel, of which he was one of their guest panelists.

In his spare time, Edwin enjoys watching independent and foreign

cinema at niche theaters, supporting original sketch comedy and

long form improv, trading collectibles, rooting for his Chicago

Cubs, and continuing to learn how to master the harmonica.