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.