Wester Demandante
Directing
Biography
Wester Demandante is a Filipino-American filmmaker who is very passionate about positively representing groups of people who have been historically underrepresented. He loves (or at least tries) to make people laugh and feel good while exploring topics that don’t typically make us laugh nor feel good. Wester aims to write and direct films for his community, inspired heavily by what Taika Waititi has been able to do for his community with films like Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. His last project before Puberty for Humans was entitled Kaaway(Enemy). It made its way around several festivals from 2019-2020, including the 42nd New York Asian American International Film Festival, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth.
Known For
A man with night terrors is greeted by an unexpected and supernaturally gifted guru.
From Both Ends
A young man receives an unexpected package from his mother that sparks a journey of connection with his culture, his passion and his mother through making a dish close to his heart, Sinigang.
Sinigang
Puberty for Humans is perfect for your nervous health class students as they approach their inevitable cybernetic bodily changes. In this short educational video, Linus, an insecure prepubescent teenager, learns that everything will be okay… for everyone else.
Puberty for Humans
"Kaaway," which means enemy in a couple Filipino dialects, is a story set in the mid '90s of the U.S. and focuses on two 11-year-old Filipino boys. Jonathan was born and raised in the U.S., while Calag was born and raised in the Philippines. After getting into a fight at school, they are forced to spend the day at the same house and the discord is inescapable. The film's central themes are assimilation, shame, and masculinity.