As the lights went out, silence filled the cinema hall. On the screen, a young gymnast performs an Olympic-level routine, which is harshly interrupted by reality. At the screening of Sunshine, a critically acclaimed Philippine film, the audience sat breathless as the story of the main character unfolded. It felt less like a movie and more like a reality.
The Philippine movie was screened at Bozar in Brussels for the 19th International Film Festival for Young Audiences, Filem’On. Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Sunshine explores universal topics focusing on health, religion, and women’s rights.
The production attracted a diverse audience, including diplomats, students, cinema enthusiasts, members of the Philippine diaspora in Brussels, and members of the festival jury.
“We are so happy that a Filipino film has been selected to participate in this, the 19th Filem’On International Film Festival for Young Audiences,” said Pablito A. Mendoza, Deputy Head of Post and Consul General at the Embassy of the Philippines to Belgium and Luxembourg.
Sunshine: A critically acclaimed production
For this year’s edition, Filem’On chose the theme “Boundless,” challenging the boundaries of the global society of the 21st century. In a world where anyone can move freely and meet across national borders, people often challenge their perception of identity and who they are. This year’s selection embodies that idea, with Sunshine being the perfect example: a local story that depicts cross-border issues.
The movie, which premiered in 2024, has won and been nominated for multiple awards. “Sunshine is a film that won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, the Narrative Feature Jury Award and Narrative Feature Audience Award at the Austin Asian American Film Festival,” noted Mendoza. Besides this, the film has participated in the Toronto International Film Festival, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the San Diego Filipino Film Festival, and the New York Asian Film Festival.
“I understand that Sunshine is in competition for the CIFEJ Award, which is given by the International Centre for Children and Youth Film – Centre International du Film pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse (CIFEJ), an international organization dedicated to films for and by young people. We wish Sunshine the best of luck,” Mendoza concluded. Jury members of the CIFEJ award who attended the screening are Monica Wahi, curator, creative producer, and acquisition consultant; Anis Lassoued, director and producer at Lumière Films, and Andrey Hadjivasilev, director and producer at Revive Vision.
A story about women’s rights and resilience
The powerful drama successfully depicts the struggles of a teenager whose dreams are threatened by pregnancy. Maris Racal, in the role of Sunshine – the protagonist – does a marvellous job depicting the fears, helplessness, and determination of the young woman.
Racal shifts from misery to happiness in seconds, delivering not only an artistic performance but also an emotional journey of hope and despair. The narrative skilfully guides viewers through contemporary Philippine society and how the issue portrayed in the movie is being tackled not only by teenagers but also by adults.
Jadaone plunges into the unjust situation facing the main character, the prejudice, once people find out about Sunshine’s situation and the illegal actions taken to escape what had happened. But the director does not stop there. She briefly touches upon other issues in the country – inadequate hospital facilities, ignorance in disadvantaged communities, and leniency towards familial child abuse.
The film led to a deep discussion that raised questions about taboo and truth while shedding light on the viewers’ reflections.
Audience reactions
At the end of the screening, the moviegoers entered a discussion about the film’s meaning and background. One viewer was particularly curious about the context of the production and its reception. “In the Philippines, abortion is illegal, but what do locals think about it, and is it screened there?” they asked.
This question was answered by another spectator who was born and raised in Manila, in the Philippines. “The movie was screened first at international film festivals because the production team knew they would get a lot of pushback,” they said. The film crew relied on the acknowledgement it received internationally, which eventually brought it to the big screen in the Philippines. “It was a blockbuster success in the first two weeks,” they concluded.
Despite the potential pushback, another person from the crowd explained that Sunshine was “screened in the House of Representatives and in front of members of Congress,” noting that those who attended the event had “a positive” reaction to the film.
Several attendees from the Philippines confirmed that the movie truthfully depicts the reality in the country and the issues women face. “I appreciate the accuracy in terms of how some scenes were portrayed,” one said, highlighting the film’s authentic portrayal of societal challenges.
Filem’On will run until 5 November 2025, with a variety of screenings held at Bozar, Galeries, Cinematek, Kinograph, and other locations across Brussels.
