Filipino actress-singer Maris Racal and award-winning filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone are basking in the European spotlight as their film Sunshine makes its Italian premiere at the prestigious Udine Far East Film Festival (FEFF).

In a recent Instagram post, Maris Racal shared a glamorous snapshot in front of a bookshop in Udine, expressing her excitement:

"Feeling red because I’m finally going to watch SUNSHINE for the first time at the Udine Far East Film Festival!!"

The film tells a compelling story with Filipino cultural nuance and emotional depth, and has already been gaining traction worldwide. Sunshine had its U.S. premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this year, followed by a celebratory moment at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), where the film won the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation Kplus section.

Photos from their Italian trip posted on Jadaone's Instagram Stories showed the pair toasting with glasses of wine at an Italian restaurant, celebrating with the caption "Cheers @mariesteller! To Sunshine! To places you've never been, to moments you've never had, to futures you've never imagined!" — a sentiment that reflects the film’s deeper themes of hope and transformation.

Photo from @tonetjadaone

Sunshine premiered at the Udine Far East Film Festival on April 25. With it being Maris' first time to see the film, film production company Project 8 Projects shared that Maris couldn't help but cry as "the credits rolled and the whole theatre clapped for her." "She bawled her eyes out," they added.

The Udine Far East Film Festival, known for shining a light on Asian cinema, has long served as a platform to introduce outstanding East and Southeast Asian films to European audiences. The inclusion of Sunshine in its 2025 lineup not only marks another milestone for Jadaone’s directorial acclaim but also highlights the growing global appreciation for contemporary Philippine cinema.

With a strong festival run already in motion, Sunshine is clearly illuminating more than just screens—it’s shining a bright light on Filipino storytelling on the world stage.

Lead photos from @mariesteller @project8projects