A young, cowardly mage journeys to a waterfall to conduct a ceremony that is said to heal his brother’s illness.
My thesis film, The Ceremony of Return, was shot over two consecutive weekends in locations around Middletown, Connecticut. The production was entirely crowd-funded and student-led, with additional support and collaboration with Wesleyan’s College of Film and the Moving Image, the Middletown Parks Division, and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
The film premiered in Wesleyan University’s Goldsmith Family Cinema in May 2025.
Avi Sriram (left) as Yasso, and Tristan Rizzuto (right) as Harov.
Shot entirely outdoors, the film attempts to use Connecticut's beautiful fall landscape as the base for its fantasy world.
The film features cloaks designed by Emily Chung and staffs carved by Thomas Purello.
The Wadsworth Falls, a popular Connecticut landmark, is given new, magical life in the film.
Directed by Elijah Joshua Pajarillaga
Executive Producers: Susan Pajarillaga and Rosemarie Shirata
Associate Producers: Norman Chan Jr. and Steven Vo
Produced by Eiley Doyle
Cinematography by Jasper Fletcher
Music by Phuwit Sangudomlert
Assistant Director Lucas Buu-hoan
Avi Sriram as Yasso
Tristan Rizzuto as Harov
Fatematuj Orjita as Kulam
Costume Design by Emily Chung
Production Design by Tess MacFarlane
Hair and Makeup: Jasmyne Le and Fatematuj Orjita
Assistant Camera: Theo Baldwin Edwards and Nola Busansky
Sound Recording: Florrie Shattock, Ella Rosenson, and Spencer Lee
Extras: Molly Fung, Jay Lee, Raphael Galang, Diana Tran, Emily Chung, Spencer Lee, Leo Mercado, and Harrison Hong
The film could not be made without the support of our GoFundMe Donors.