Lea Salonga’s sci-fi short film ‘The Vale – Origins’ now streaming for free 

Experience the acclaimed hybrid prequel to Abigail Hing Wen’s bestselling novel now on Omeleto YouTube.

Lea Salonga fans around the world can now finally watch “The Vale – Origins” as the live-action and animated hybrid short film officially makes its global online premiere on Omeleto, following its successful festival run.

The film, which serves as a prequel to author Abigail Hing Wen’s bestselling novel “The Vale,” follows Bran Lee, a young neurodiverse boy who creates an AI-powered virtual reality world after a devastating loss causes his inventor family to drift apart.

As his parents help him build and code the fantastical realm, the Vale becomes more than just an imaginary world. It becomes a way for the family to reconnect, heal from grief, and rediscover their bond through creativity and love.

Starring Tony Award winner Lea Salonga as Addy Lee, alongside Robert Palmer Watkins (“The Walking Dead”) and newcomer Egan Xander as young Bran, the film blends live-action storytelling with animation to explore family, grief, human creativity, and humanity’s evolving relationship with artificial intelligence.

Written and directed by Wen, with animation direction from Emmy Award winner John Aoshima (“Gravity Falls,” “Ultraman: Rising”), “The Vale — Origins” premiered at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2026, before making its way through various film festivals.

The short film has since picked up several accolades, including Best Animation at the GeekFest Film Festival and Best Adaptation at the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology. Salonga also took home the Best Actor award at the 22nd San Diego International Kids Film Festival in August for her performance as Addy Lee.

Now, after its festival journey, Lea fans no longer have to wait to see the film.

The “Vale — Origins” is now streaming globally on Omeleto, giving audiences everywhere the chance to experience the story that brought Wen’s literary world from page to screen.

So, ready to step into the Vale?

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