Jansen Magpusao, who was awarded Best Actor at the 2019 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2019 for his role in “John Denver Trending”, is starring as Lance in the coming-of-age short film “Elephant Paths”, an official entry to Sine Kabataan 8 organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Bon Andrew Lentejas, who was feted as Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for his role in “Huling Palabas”, is co-starring alongside Magpusao as Kidlat.
Air Salazar, who starred in the 2022 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival entry “Bula sa Langit” and the 2024 Puregold Cinepanalo entry “A Lab Story”, is joining Magpusao and Lentejas in “Elephant Paths” as Alon.
Cristine Ysobel Refulgente completes the “Elephant Paths” cast as Maya in her Sine Kabataan debut.
“Elephant Paths” tells the story of Lance, Maya, Alon, and Kidlat, a group of teenage misfits who find company in each other as they work together to pave a hidden path and sanctuary for themselves in the face of their hometown’s rapid and uneven development.
The short is the second film of Joshua de Vera (SBSG Pictures) following his directorial debut “At Least We Had This Moment”, which was selected at the recently concluded Queer East Film Festival in London and is now competing at the Korea Queer Film Festival.
“Elephant Paths” is being produced by Julius Renomeron Jr. (Gate 11 Collective), who directed Heist School, selected for the Audience Choice Award in the Short Film Category at the 2019 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and the Special Mention Award at the 2024 San Diego Filipino Film Festival.
901 Studios and Astral 88 are co-producing “Elephant Paths”, fresh from their production of “Agapito” which was one of the short films selected at the recent Cannes Film Festival.
“Elephant Paths” is filming soon and is seeking funding and support. You can pledge for the film’s production here: tinyurl.com/MakeElephantPaths.