HINDI napigilan ni Maris Racal maiyak matapos mapanood sa unang pagkakataon ang sariling pelikula na “Sunshine” sa idinaos na Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Sa caption ng larawan na ipinost ng Project 8 Projects kung saan dumalo si Maris sa premiere ng pelikula last April 25, sinabi nito: “Maris Racal saw Sunshine for the first time in Udine, Italy. This was her as the credits rolled and the whole theatre clapped for her. She bawled her eyes out. We love you, Sunshine @mariesteller. The world is yours!”
Ang Far East Film Festival ay isa sa largest Asian film festivals sa Europe na may layuning ipakita ang “diversity and richness” ng Asian cinema.
Ang pelikulang “Sunshine” ni Maris ay kuwento ng isang “young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. On her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks and thinks like her.”
Last February, nagwagi ang “Sunshine” ng Crystal Bear for Best Film sa 75th Berlin International Film Festival.
“The Crystal Bear is awarded to the Best Feature Film of both the Generation Kplus and the Generation 14plus competition. @berlinale @berlinale_generation,” ayon sa post ng Project 8 Projects sa social media.
Sa isang interview kay Maris noong 2024, sinabi ng aktres na nag-train siya sa loob ng isang taon para sa role niya sa “Sunshine.”
“I really pushed my limits and trained for it. Kahit mahirap, pinilit ko. It was made through blood, sweat, and tears. Talagang pinaghirapan namin. 2020 pa yung script. It made me very emotional because one year ako nag train. Nakita ko pelikula, trailer iba dating sa akin. Maganda story. Sa film na ‘to, I’ve grown so much as an actress,” say ni Maris sa kanyang Instagram post noong January 2024 kung kailan natapos ang shooting ng movie.
“Ito ‘yung project na magiging proud ako na nagawa ko dahil sa sobrang ganda ng mensahe. Thank you direk [Antoinette Jadaone] ako napili mo,” dagdag pa ni Maris.
