"Sunshine" Shines At The Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2025

BARCELONA, Spain—The screening of Sunshine at Cinemes Girona on weekend, presented as the Philippine entry to the Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2025 Official Section, drew a full house of film enthusiasts, critics, and members of the Filipino community in Spain.

Before the screening, the film’s director, Antoinette Jadaone, joined festival director Menene Gras Balaguer in presenting her film, offering insights into her creative process and the social realities that inspired the film. Her quiet confidence and sincerity mirrored the emotional depth of her work.

“I wanted to make Sunshine,” she began, “because the Philippines, though free for more than a century, still carries many colonial legacies. We were under Spain for 333 years, and in many ways, our society remains bound by those old moral laws. Divorce is still illegal, and abortion is banned under all circumstances—even when the mother’s life is in danger. Every day, three Filipino women die from abortion-related complications. The story of Sunshine sheds light on the experiences of these young women who face their pregnancies alone, without support from their families or the state.”

The audience listened intently as Antoinette described her protagonist.

“Sunshine (played by actress Maris Racal) follows a teenage gymnast, an aspiring Olympian, who is about to try out for the Philippine national gymnastics team. But just before her trials, she discovers she’s pregnant. On her way to buy illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily looks and acts like her. Their encounter becomes a journey of self-reflection and resistance—an intimate look into how young women fight for agency in a world that denies them choice.”

The film, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, went on to win the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival. Its global success, Antoinette shared, was both humbling and eye-opening.

“Across the festivals we’ve attended, the most common reaction is empathy—and disbelief. Many non-Filipinos are shocked to learn that Sunshine’s story reflects a real situation in the Philippines. But there are many Sunshines, not just back home but everywhere. The difference is that in developing countries, young women face even greater barriers, without proper support or protection.”

As the conversation came to a close, Antoinette turned toward the audience with a heartfelt smile.

“Just a big thank you,” she said, “to all the Filipinos who came to the theater tonight.”

Her words were met with warm applause, echoing through the historic walls of Cinemes Girona, a moment of shared pride and quiet strength, as Sunshine continued to shine light on stories too often left in the dark.

Photos: Sandra Sotelo - Aboy, TFCN Spain