Santelmo (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Santelmo is a 20-minute Filipino animated drama about Dio, a young boy drawn to the legend of Santelmo while his family struggles to keep the land they have farmed for generations. Through stories and memories, he begins to grasp what that land means to them.

Santelmo is a 2026 animated drama from the Philippines centered on Dio, a young boy whose belief in the legend of Santelmo intersects with his family’s fight to retain their farmland.

At 20 minutes, the film presents a compact story about family history, memory and the importance of land passed down through generations. It is directed by Isabel De Luna and written by Jodi Anne Yvette Estoya.

Santelmo movie details

Story without spoilers

Dio believes in the legend of Santelmo, but his attention is also drawn to a very real problem facing his family: their struggle to hold on to the land they have farmed for generations. As family stories and memories meet the difficult realities of land disputes, Dio gradually develops a deeper understanding of why the property matters so much to his family.

The premise connects a child’s imaginative view of the world with an inherited family concern. Santelmo’s story stays focused on Dio’s growing awareness rather than presenting the land struggle only as an abstract conflict.

What to expect

Santelmo combines drama and animation in a short-form story shaped by folklore, family memory and the pressures surrounding land ownership. Viewers can expect a focused narrative following a young protagonist as he comes to understand a serious issue affecting his family.

The supplied premise points to a film with both imaginative and grounded elements: the legend of Santelmo provides one part of Dio’s perspective, while the family’s effort to preserve its farmland supplies the central reality. Its 20-minute runtime suggests a concise presentation rather than an expansive feature-length treatment.

Cast and creative team

Kyle Berntly Camontoy plays Dio, the young boy at the center of the story. Ashley Mangubat plays Laling, Eutequiano Zoleta plays Lolo Agoy, and Jay Anne Rodil plays Aling Sonya.

Isabel De Luna directs Santelmo, with Jodi Anne Yvette Estoya credited as writer.

• Ashley Mangubat as Laling
• Kyle Berntly Camontoy as Dio
• Eutequiano Zoleta as Lolo Agoy
• Jay Anne Rodil as Aling Sonya

Release and production context

Santelmo is a 2026 production from the Philippines, with a listed release date of September 2, 2026. The film runs for 20 minutes and is classified as a drama and animation title. Its spoken languages are Tagalog and English, and its production company is Pelikulayag.

Production companies: Pelikulayag

Movies Dock view

With its short runtime and clear focus on one family’s connection to the land, Santelmo offers a compact animated drama built around a child’s changing understanding of heritage and struggle. Its combination of legend, memory and family conflict gives the film a distinct foundation without requiring a large-scale story.

Film data:
TMDB