Pinoy Pride: 'Sunshine' Star Maris Racal Attends the 27th Taipei Film Festival
ADVERTISEMENT

Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
Pinoy Pride: 'Sunshine' Star Maris Racal Attends the 27th Taipei Film Festival
Grace Libero
Published Jun 21, 2025 06:40 PM PHT
|
Updated Jun 21, 2025 07:56 PM PHT

Maris Racal | Photo by @dookieducay
.jpg)
Maris Racal graced the 27th Taipei Film Festival, representing the movie Sunshine. Joining her in Taiwan is the sports drama film's writer and director, Antoinette Jadaone.
Maris Racal graced the 27th Taipei Film Festival, representing the movie Sunshine. Joining her in Taiwan is the sports drama film's writer and director, Antoinette Jadaone.
Keeping up with her statement-making fashion streak for the Sunshine promos, Maris and her stylist, Adrianne Concepcion, opted for a modern, elegant black and white ankle-length terno with a voluminous skirt by designer AJ Javier. That she is representing the Philippines on a global stage this month, when the country just celebrated its 127th Independence Day, makes their classic outfit choice meaningful.
Keeping up with her statement-making fashion streak for the Sunshine promos, Maris and her stylist, Adrianne Concepcion, opted for a modern, elegant black and white ankle-length terno with a voluminous skirt by designer AJ Javier. That she is representing the Philippines on a global stage this month, when the country just celebrated its 127th Independence Day, makes their classic outfit choice meaningful.
She matched her outfit with a sleek bun hairstyle, accentuated by her signature bangs, and a subtly fierce makeup style with winged eyeliner and red lips. Maris' glam team included makeup artist Janica Cleto and hairstylist Aries Manal.
She matched her outfit with a sleek bun hairstyle, accentuated by her signature bangs, and a subtly fierce makeup style with winged eyeliner and red lips. Maris' glam team included makeup artist Janica Cleto and hairstylist Aries Manal.
Participating in a Q&A segment alongside Direk Tonet, Maris said when asked about how she trained for her role as a gymnast: "I trained for about one year, but on and off. I met a rhythmic gymnast coach and a rhythmic gymnast. She's also an athlete. She's part of the national team. She taught me everything on the basics and the demeanor, and the mindset of an athlete."
Participating in a Q&A segment alongside Direk Tonet, Maris said when asked about how she trained for her role as a gymnast: "I trained for about one year, but on and off. I met a rhythmic gymnast coach and a rhythmic gymnast. She's also an athlete. She's part of the national team. She taught me everything on the basics and the demeanor, and the mindset of an athlete."
ADVERTISEMENT
Someone in the audience also asked about abortion, which is a topic Sunshine touched on. Commenting on the process of working on the film and the challenges that it came with, Direk Tonet shared, "Yes, it is still illegal in the Philippines. When we were researching about it, we had people—the teenage girls who got pregnant—to talk about it freely. It was during the pandemic. It was mostly during Zoom meetings. Their camera was turned off, so that we won't see who they are. Their secret is safe. We signed non-disclosure agreements, so that everything that we say will only be used for research purposes and not for any other promotional or marketing processes in the film."
Someone in the audience also asked about abortion, which is a topic Sunshine touched on. Commenting on the process of working on the film and the challenges that it came with, Direk Tonet shared, "Yes, it is still illegal in the Philippines. When we were researching about it, we had people—the teenage girls who got pregnant—to talk about it freely. It was during the pandemic. It was mostly during Zoom meetings. Their camera was turned off, so that we won't see who they are. Their secret is safe. We signed non-disclosure agreements, so that everything that we say will only be used for research purposes and not for any other promotional or marketing processes in the film."
Sunshine is about a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant during an important time in her budding career as an athlete. The movie won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. It premiered on September 13, 2024 at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It is also slated for a New York premiere, having been selected at the 24th New York Asian Film Festival to be held from July 11 to July 27, 2025.
Sunshine is about a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant during an important time in her budding career as an athlete. The movie won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. It premiered on September 13, 2024 at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It is also slated for a New York premiere, having been selected at the 24th New York Asian Film Festival to be held from July 11 to July 27, 2025.
Written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone and produced by Geo Lomuntad, Dan Villegas, and Bianca Balbuena, Sunshine will finally make its way home to the Philippines, as it will premiere in the country and be shown in SM cinemas nationwide on July 23.
Written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone and produced by Geo Lomuntad, Dan Villegas, and Bianca Balbuena, Sunshine will finally make its way home to the Philippines, as it will premiere in the country and be shown in SM cinemas nationwide on July 23.
The newly released trailer of Sunshine garnered 18 million views across all platforms.
The newly released trailer of Sunshine garnered 18 million views across all platforms.
Aside from Sunshine, Maris has also been solidifying her portfolio as an actress with recent projects like the movies And the Breadwinner Is... and Sosyal Climbers, as well as top-rated action series Incognito.
Aside from Sunshine, Maris has also been solidifying her portfolio as an actress with recent projects like the movies And the Breadwinner Is... and Sosyal Climbers, as well as top-rated action series Incognito.
Sunshine is showing only in SM Cinemas starting July 23. Ticket prices are at P275 (Metro Manila) and P230 (Provincial). Buy your tickets online, via the SM Cinema app, and at SM Cinema branches nationwide.
Photos by Dookie Ducay
Photos by Dookie Ducay
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT