Vahn Leinard Pascual
Vahn Leinard C. Pascual is a Filipino film director and writer whose works often explore themes of identity, family, grief, politics, and the queer experience. He began making films at a young age, with his short films screening and receiving recognition at film festivals in the Philippines and abroad.
In 2026, Pascual made his feature film debut with Status: Rejected as the youngest filmmaker in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2026 Main Competition. The film received the NETPAC Jury Award for Full-Length Feature, while its lead actress, Ruby Ruiz, won Best Actress for her performance.
Pascual’s short films have earned him several recognitions. He was awarded the Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) for Cinema by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and was recognized as a Film Ambassador by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He was also named one of CNN Philippines Life’s “Eight Emerging Filipino Directors to Watch Out For.” He represented the Philippines at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s student exchange program, supported by the Japan Foundation, and later received a scholarship to participate in the Niigata International Animation Film Festival Camp in Japan. He also became the youngest recipient of the inaugural CREATE Awards in the Audiovisual domain from the House of Representatives of the Philippines.
Among his works, Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig (2021) screened at the QCinema International Film Festival and was later made available on the Criterion Channel. Mary Go Round, Mary Round (2023) was part of Cinemalaya’s Next Gen section and later earned Pascual Best Short Movie Director of the Year at the 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.
Photos
Films (33)
Status: Rejected
2026 · Director, Screenplay, Story
KMJS' Gabi Ng Lagim: The Movie
2025 · Production Assistant
Yelo
2025 · Production Design
Honey, My Love, So Sweet
2025 · Props
In the Hour of Judgment
2025 · Production Design
Mga Gawaing Bahay
2024 · Man, Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematography, Production Designer, Writer
Fidel Ten Days Before the End of the World—The Universe Rather
2024 · Production Design
P.O.V. (Pepe On Vlog)
2024 · Production Design
#teen
2023 · Production Assistant
Mary Go Round, Mary Go Round
2023 · Director, Writer, Producer, Location Manager
IX
2022 · Television Show Narrator
The Chicks in the Forest
2022 · Chick, Director, Writer, Visual Effects, Animation, Character Designer, Background Designer, Editor, Sound Designer, Storyboard Artist
I Will Never Forget You
2022 · Uncle Joey, Director, Writer, Production Designer, Producer
Sickboy
2022 · Jan Jan, Writers' Assistant
The Gossips of Cicadidae
2022 · Director, Writer, Producer
Washing of Hands
2021 · Ordinary Hand, Pig, Director, Editor, Writer, Production Design, Director of Photography, Sound Designer
In Our Temporary World
2021 · Director, Writer, Producer, Production Design
They Who Were Lost In Oblivion
2021 · Director, Director of Photography, Production Design, Producer, Writer
Whatever is Served
2021 · Director, Writer, Production Designer
Alexa, Xander and the Universe
2020 · Xander, Director, Producer, Writer
Sala, Salin-Laway
2020 · Jema, Production Design
AaBaKaDa
2020 · Writer
The Last Destination
2020 · Director, Writer, Location Scout
Boy Talk
2020 · Kiko
Grand Gestures
2020 · Production Assistant
Blue Is Not My Favorite Color
2020 · Themself, Animation, Director, Writer, Editor, Sound Designer
A Poem for The One Who Left
2019 · Young Man, Director, Writer
Auntie Rosita
2019 · Max, Director, Editor, Writer, Producer, Location Manager
Ikay
2019 · Father, Director, Writer, Location Manager, Location Scout, Camera Operator, Editor
A Child Behind Bars
2019 · Set Decoration, Director, Producer, Writer, Colorist
Ante
2009 · Kiko
Sisa
2008 · Crispin
My Dearest Darling
· Director, Writer
