After a brutal casting session with an established film director, aspiring actor Drake Roberts gets the opportunity to audition for the executive producer the very next day. 

Drake must face the violence of the industry and find out if he has what it takes to transform pain into resilience, uncover a bigger purpose, and ultimately reclaim the true meaning of being an actor.

Allegorical and unflinching, Trigger confronts the brutal pressures of ambition and resilience in the film industry. 

The film premiered at the 40th edition of Reel Pride International Film Festival, where Alen Xhafa won the Jury Choice Emerging Filmmaker Award.

Written and Directed by Alen Xhafa

Produced by Alen Xhafa, Amanda Zhou

Co-Produced by Anna Yuan, Gean Xhafa

Starring:

Bevan Buhler as Drake Roberts

Charlie Ebbs as Frank Larsson

Director of Photography: Michael Maddeaux

Score by Tommaso Ermolli

432hz Violin by Anyla Kraja

Edited by Alen Xhafa, Aidan McMahon

Sound Design by Aidan McMahon

Colour by Randy Rektor

Hair & Markup by Amanda Cassel

VFX by Muhammad Ikram

Sound Engineer by Angelo Loffredi

Sound Mix by Scott McCrorie

Set Design by Emme Neogi

Graphic Art by Marco Paravani

Sound Recording by Irlanda Zdrzalka, Keth Sivakumar

1st Assistant Camera Cailtin Bevington

2nd Assistant Camera Anna Maria Li

Gaffer Gabriel Dinardo

Key Grip Jason D'Souza

1st Assistant Director Amanda Zhou

2nd Assistant Director Cinthya Raygoza

Script Supervisor Kalpit Patel

Script Consultant Giovanni Vanoli

Intimacy Coordinator Ethan Persyko

Art Production Assistant Japleen Kaur

Still photography by Ciwing Wang

Background Cihang Ma

Special thanks to:

Haley Jennings 

Hilton Hotel

Heather Holditch

Tricia Clarke

ACTRA Toronto

With the help from Canada Council for the Arts

Lenx Productions 2025