Stone Fruit (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Stone Fruit is a 20-minute Philippine fantasy drama centered on Samantha, who faces an impossible choice: remain devoted to her ailing father as his body turns to stone, or pursue the life she has long wanted.

Stone Fruit, also known by its original title Bato’ng Bunga, is a 2026 fantasy drama from the Philippines. Written and directed by Elj Seth Tababa, the short film follows a young woman caught between family responsibility and personal freedom.

At just 20 minutes, the film presents its central conflict in concentrated form. Samantha must decide how to respond to her father’s worsening condition while confronting the future she has always imagined for herself.

Stone Fruit movie details

Story without spoilers

Samantha’s father is suffering from a mysterious condition in which his body is gradually turning to stone. As his illness advances, Samantha is forced to consider what caring for him will require and whether that responsibility means giving up the life she has wanted.

The film’s fantasy premise serves a deeply personal family dilemma. Rather than offering an expansive mythology in the supplied synopsis, Stone Fruit focuses on Samantha’s emotional and moral predicament: the tension between devotion to an ailing parent and the desire to shape an independent future.

What to expect

Stone Fruit can be approached as a compact blend of fantasy, drama and family storytelling. Its speculative element is closely tied to the father’s physical transformation, while the main narrative concern is Samantha’s difficult decision.

The short runtime suggests a focused presentation built around one central conflict rather than a broad, multi-threaded story. Viewers can expect a family drama framed through an unusual fantastical condition, with the emphasis placed on care, obligation and the cost of personal choice.

Cast and creative team

Theresa Leoligao plays Samantha, the central character facing the film’s moral dilemma. Sol Eugenio appears as Gregor, and Sharon Ceneta plays Lina. Elj Seth Tababa wrote and directed Stone Fruit.

• Sol Eugenio as Gregor
• Sharon Ceneta as Lina
• Theresa Leoligao as Samantha

Release and production context

Stone Fruit was released on September 18, 2026. The film runs for 20 minutes and comes from the Philippines. It was produced by Hiraya Pictures. Its original title is Bato’ng Bunga. The supplied production information does not specify a spoken language.

Production companies: Hiraya Pictures

Movies Dock view

With its short-form structure and striking fantasy premise, Stone Fruit places a familiar family conflict in an unusual physical reality. Its story is defined by Samantha’s choice between caring for her father and pursuing the life she has long desired, making the film’s central question clear without revealing how that dilemma is resolved.

Film data:
TMDB