Maris Racal is winning—in every sense of the word! She recently watched her film Sunshine for the first time at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, and she couldn't help but turn emotional and speechless over the experience. (And honestly, who wouldn't be?)
"Finally napanood ko na kagabi ang Sunshine. I have no words. I just want to thank my director, @tonetjadaone for this story," Maris shared in an Instagram post.
"Ang tapang, ang bigat, at sobrang importanteng mapanood ng mga tao lalo na ngayon. Excited na kaming iuwi ang Sunshine para sa inyo!" she added.
Project8projects, the production company behind the film, also shared emotional photos of Maris right after the screening. "Maris Racal saw Sunshine for the first time in Udine, Italy. This was her as the credits rolled and the whole theatre clapped for her. She bawled her eyes out. We love you, Sunshine @mariesteller. The world is yours!" they shared.
Sunshine tells a powerful story that touches on womanhood, gender rights, and a woman's right to her own reproductive health—topics that hit close to home for many Filipinos but are often still considered taboo.
In the film, Maris plays a gymnast aiming to qualify for the national team, but her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she’s pregnant—forcing her to face the difficult decision of whether to terminate the pregnancy.
Directed by filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone, Sunshine also stars fellow Filipino actors Xyriel Manabat and Elijah Canlas.
Maris Racal Watched Sunshine Premiere At Far East Film Festival
Earlier this year, Sunshine made history by winning the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival a.k.a. the Berlinale, which is a huge milestone not just for Maris, but for Philippine cinema as a whole.
It competed under the Berlinale's Generation 14plus category, which spotlights compelling coming-of-age stories from around the world.
For Maris, the success of Sunshine is even sweeter given how much hard work she put into the role. In a 2024 interview, she opened up about the intense preparation she went through to bring her character to life. "I was not flexible. I'm not the most flexible. So challenging sakin. I really pushed my limits and trained for it. Kahit mahirap, pinilit ko."
"It was made through blood, sweat, and tears. Talagang pinaghirapan namin. 2020 pa yung script. It made me very emotional because one year ako nag train. Nakita ko pelikula, trailer iba dating sa akin. Maganda story," she added.
Clearly, all that effort is paying off! Sunshine continues to shine on the global stage, and so does Maris.
