Maris Racal’s ‘Sunshine’ lands North American deal
Maris Racal | Photo from mariesteller/Instagram
Filipina actress Maris Racal’s critically acclaimed film “Sunshine” continues its global ascent.
After bagging the prestigious Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation 14plus section of this year’s Berlinale, the coming-of-age Filipino drama has secured North American distribution through Indiecan Entertainment.
Revealed during the Cannes Film Festival, the deal includes not only theatrical and digital rights for North America but also remake rights for an English-language adaptation.
Screencap from ‘Sunshine’ trailer
Indiecan’s Avi Federgreen is set to direct the reimagined version, with production backing from Federgreen Entertainment and Michaelangelo Masangkay’s Sine Media Inc.
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“BIG NEWS IS OUT!!!” wrote Project 8 Projects in an Instagram announcement. “Berlinale winner Sunshine gets North American distribution deal with Indiecan Entertainment, along with remake rights and English-language adaptation.”
The agreement is a collaborative effort among Project 8 Projects, Anima Studios, Cloudy Duck Pictures, Happy Infinite and Sine Media Inc.
Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, “Sunshine” unfolds with Maris Racal portraying a young athlete grappling with the dual pressures of training for the national team and facing the life-altering reality of an unexpected pregnancy.
As she navigates this pivotal chapter, a mysterious presence enters her orbit, prompting emotional revelations that reshape her understanding of love, family and resilience.
Despite the international buzz, Racal herself had not seen the full-length film until recently. Her first complete viewing took place during “Sunshine’s” world premiere at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
Audiences in North America can expect “Sunshine” to hit theaters and digital platforms in the fourth quarter of 2025, a step in further amplifying Filipino storytelling on a global stage.
With a remake already in the works, “Sunshine” is beaming to continue illuminating screens far and wide and Maris Racal couldn’t wait to bring the film home.
