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Awaken

A young girl struggling with delusion and a weary local frequent their favorite seaside bench.

  • Alijah Jacob Castillo Buada
    Director
  • Alijah Jacob Castillo Buada
    Writer
  • Alijah Jacob Castillo Buada
    Producer
  • Hau'oli Carr
    Key Cast
    "Rain"
    I Was a Simple Man (2021)
  • Ova Saopeng
    Key Cast
    "Jean Pelekai"
    Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
  • Trung To
    Key Cast
    "Glenn"
    Pulp (2023)
  • Julian Natividad
    Key Cast
    "Gillian"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 4, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,797 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    BRAW
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - San Diego State University
  • San Diego Filipino Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    October 4, 2023
    Worldwide Premiere
    Official Selection
  • San Diego Asian Film Festival
    San Diego
    United States
    November 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Vienna International Film Awards
    Vienna
    Austria
    December 2, 2023
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alijah Jacob Castillo Buada

Alijah Buada is a 22-year-old Filipino-American Storyteller based in San Diego. He's an SDSU alumni who excels at screenwriting and producing. He advocates for cultural expression via independent and arthouse cinema.

His debut short film Awaken premiered at the 3rd Annual San Diego Filipino Film Festival and showed again at the 24th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival. You can find him on all socials @alijahbuada.

Fun fact, his favorite storyteller is Anthony Bourdain, and his favorite film is The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Awaken originates from a culmination of random public encounters and certain recurring dreams of mine. In essence, I am turning dream into reality.

Having such closely-knit bonds to my family members, I draw many parallels between them and the main characters of this story: Jean and Rain. What this film will seek to uncover and behold is that exact dual nature of love and pain when it comes to family ties. At the very least, you might even subconsciously recognize certain members of your own family through these two characters.

This is a story that delves into how a young girl named Rain struggles with bereavement and mental illness via delusion. It is in her figment of imagination where we explore the life of Jean. We navigate a dream-like state of their interactions, incidents, and personal lives. Despite how society outcasts them, the one thing they do have control over is their own cherished idea of family.

I hope you enjoy my story.

Sincerely,
Alijah Jacob