Vahn Leinard Pascual
Known For: Directing
Biography
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.
Filmography
2026
- Status: Rejected ... (Director)
2025
- KMJS' Gabi Ng Lagim: The Movie ... (Production Assistant)
- Yelo ... (Production Design)
- Honey, My Love, So Sweet ... (Props)
- In the Hour of Judgment ... (Production Design)
2024
- Fidel Ten Days Before the End of the World—The Universe Rather ... (Production Design)
- P.O.V. (Pepe On Vlog) ... (Production Design)
- Mga Gawaing Bahay as Man
2023
- #teen ... (Production Assistant)
- Mary Go Round, Mary Go Round ... (Producer)
2022
- IX as Television Show Narrator
- Sickboy as Jan Jan
- The Gossips of Cicadidae ... (Producer)
- I Will Never Forget You as Uncle Joey
- The Chicks in the Forest as Chick
2021
- Whatever is Served ... (Writer)
- Washing of Hands as Ordinary Hand
- They Who Were Lost In Oblivion ... (Production Design)
- In Our Temporary World ... (Production Design)
2020
- Grand Gestures ... (Production Assistant)
- AaBaKaDa ... (Writer)
- The Last Destination ... (Director)
- Boy Talk as Kiko
- Alexa, Xander and the Universe as Xander
- Sala, Salin-Laway as Jema
- Blue Is Not My Favorite Color as Themself
2019
- Auntie Rosita as Max
- Ikay as Father
- A Child Behind Bars ... (Set Decoration)
- A Poem for The One Who Left as Young Man
2009
- Ante as Kiko