Maris Racal Tackles Teenage Pregnancy in Upcoming Movie “Sunshine”

Maris Racal will shed light on the struggles of teenage pregnancy in the upcoming movie, “Sunshine,” directed by Antoinette Jadaone and produced by ANIMA Studios and Project 8 Projects. 

“Sunshine” follows the story of a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant on the week of the national team tryouts. While on her way to a seller of illegal abortion drugs, she meets a mysterious girl who eerily talks and thinks like her.

This marks Racal’s third collaboration with Jadaone following “Simula Sa Gitna” and “The Kangks Show.” 

In an exclusive interview with Hollywood entertainment news outlet Deadline, the renowned filmmaker shared the inspiration behind the film, “Sunshine represents the hundreds of thousands of girls who became pregnant in their teens. These topics have always been taboo in the Philippines because of our deeply conservative roots, but when cases of teenage pregnancy and self-induced abortions rise every year, it is imperative that these stories be told.”

In January, Racal revealed that she’s working on a new project with Jadaone and even recalled getting emotional upon reading the script. She also said she has grown so much as an actress through the upcoming movie. “Sunshine” is currently in post-production. 

ANIMA Studios strives to amplify Filipino talent globally through its creator-focused approach and bold content, such as Sundance-winning “Leonor Will Never Die” and the genre-defying “Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon).” Meanwhile, Project 8 Projects, led by acclaimed directors Jadaone and Dan Villegas, continues to shape Philippine cinema with notable works, including pop culture classics “That Thing Called Tadhana” and “The Missing (Iti Mapukpukaw).”

ALSO READ: Maris Racal Wraps Up Filming Upcoming Movie “Sunshine” With Antoinette Jadaone