Maris Racal arrives at Berlinale 2025 for her film ‘Sunshine’
Maris Racal arrives at Berlinale 2025 | Image: Instagram/@mariesteller
Filipina actress Maris Racal is marking a career milestone as she arrived at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale 2025 to represent her film “Sunshine,” which is competing in the festival under the Generation 14plus category.
Racal shared snapshots of her arrival on Instagram, including a selfie of her wearing a black hoodie and an Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin sign, with the caption, “This is crazy.”
Prior to its European debut, “Sunshine” already premiered and competed at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, and at the Palm Springs Film Festival early this year.
Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, “Sunshine” tells the story of a young gymnast (Racal) who discovers that she is pregnant ahead of her tryouts for the national team, making her look for a way to terminate the pregnancy.
Aside from Racal, the film also features Elijah Canlas, Xyriel Manabat, Annika Co and Jennica Garcia.
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In a recent interview with ABS-CBN at the airport before her departure for the German-based film festival, Racal said that she hopes her attendance at the international event will open more opportunities for her.
“Matagal ko ‘tong hinintay na maka-attend sa isang prestigious film festival like Berlinale,” she said. “I’m excited because I’m curious; paano nila i-a-accept itong story. I’m sure they will be open-minded about it.”
“I’m just going to be there, be present. Be a sponge there, absorbing everything. I know this will open a lot of new perspectives for me, and hopefully a lot of doors too,” continued the Kapamilya star.
In the Generation 14plus category, Racal’s “Sunshine” will compete against Brazil’s “Barbed Wire,” the United Kingdom and Ireland’s “Christy,” Greece and France’s “Our Wildest Days,” Germany and Italy’s “Paternal Leave,” Brazil’s “Playtime,” Croatia, Lithuania and Slovenia’s “Sandbag Dam,” Brazil, Chile and Colombia’s “Sunset over America,” Egypt’s “The Tale of Daye’s Family,” Belgium’s “Têtes Brûlées,” India and Singapore’s “Village Rockstars 2,” and Canada’s “Wrong Husband.”
The festival runs from Feb. 13 to 23, with awards night taking place on Saturday, Feb. 22.
