‘John Denver Trending’ actor Jansen Magpusao plays lead in new short film

Jansen Magpusao returns to the big screen.

Jansen Magpusao stars in new short film “Kung Pa’no Sinunog ang Nanay Ko!”

The award-winning actor leads the cast whose official poster and trailer have now been released.

Magpusao first gained national recognition for his breakout performance in “John Denver Trending,” where he portrayed a teenager whose life unravels after a viral accusation of theft. The role earned him the Best Actor award at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, making him one of the youngest performers to receive the honor.

He later continued building his reputation in independent cinema through roles in films such as “The Gospel of the Beast” and the short film “Dandansoy,” taking on intense and complex characters that highlight his dramatic range.

A rising indie powerhouse

In recent years, the actor has continued building his presence in Philippine independent cinema, most recently appearing in Joshua de Vera’s “Elephant Paths,” one of the films in Sine Kabataan Film Festival 2025.

In “Kung Pa’no Sinunog ang Nanay Ko!” Magpusao stars alongside Ariel Perino, Jeremy Mayores, and Elle Velasco, with Lau Cortes and Pau Baluyan also part of the cast.

The short film is written, produced, edited, and directed by student filmmaker Janno Pelias as his capstone project at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. The project is produced under the ORIG na Sine productions and co-produced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, in association with the Bipolaroid Film Fund and Cinemmon Atbp.