‘Sunshine’ Trailer Debuts Ahead of Toronto Premiere, Spotlights Teenage Pregnancy and Olympic Dreams in the Philippines (EXCLUSIVE)

Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone’s latest feature “Sunshine,” set to world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, has unveiled its trailer.

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The film, selected for TIFF’s Centrepiece program, tackles the sensitive issue of teenage pregnancy and abortion in the Philippines, while also highlighting the struggles of aspiring Olympic athletes.

“Sunshine” follows a young gymnast who discovers she’s pregnant just before the national team tryouts. The film explores the challenges faced by pregnant women in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, where abortion is illegal and unsafe procedures are common.

Jadaone, known for films like “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “Fan Girl,” aims to shed light on pressing social issues. “‘Sunshine’ represents the hundreds of thousands of girls who became pregnant in their teens. About 500 Filipino teenagers become mothers every day,” the director states.

The film stars Maris Racal as the titular character. Racal said: “I am grateful to have played this important role especially since abortion is such a sensitive topic in the Philippines. I learned the weight that you carry when you are an athlete, the things that you have to give up and the hours that you have to dedicate to training.”

The film also addresses the struggles of athletes in underfunded sports, with the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines partnering to ensure accurate representation. This aspect of the story resonates with the current climate in Philippine sports, as Jadaone notes: “With the meteoric rise of Filipinos going for gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics, now more than ever is the time to tell stories about local athletes fighting everyday for their dream.”

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“Sunshine” is produced by Project 8 Projects, Anima Studios, Happy Infinite and Cloudy Duck. It received support from various film development programs, including Busan Asian Film School, Full Circle Film Lab, Film Development Council of the Philippines and CreatePH.

Producer Bianca Balbuena of Anima Studios said: “‘Sunshine’ tackles a taboo subject that is of paramount importance in a world that constantly hinders women’s freedom over her own body.”

Watch the trailer here:

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 5-15. Jadaone and producer Geo Lomuntad will attend to represent “Sunshine.”

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