Pinoy film, "Sunshine", bags the Crystal Bear Award for Best Film at Berlinale

By Grace Sheela Pickert

Impressed by the style and creativity of “Sunshine” which portrayed the reality and variety of views on pressing issues that truly appealed to viewers, the jury awarded the Gläserner Bär or Crystal Bear Award for Best Film to the Philippine entry in the just-concluded 75th Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale.

The Generation 14Plus for Youth Jury believes the film will leave a lasting impact on the viewing audience, whether or not they have a connection to the issues the movie dealt with.

During the red carpet event, “Sunshine” lead actor Maris Racal told Pinoy Portal Europe (PPE) that being part of Berlinale is already a victory for the movie.

 “I’m very grateful and very happy, I didn’t know that the European audience would take it that way. I’m very excited to bring this film home because it upholds a very special message,” Racal said ahead of the awards announcement.

Also in an earlier interview, Direk Antoinette Jadaone said going to Berlinale is a dream for the team so when they received the news that “Sunshine” was selected for screening, the whole team got excited.

Film Director Antoinette Jadaone's film "Sunshine" won the Crystal Bear Award for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival [Photo by Mel Michael Montajes]

"We were very thankful even just to get the film shown, because that would be a big opportunity already for us, for the film, but that was it. We did not really think of it as a competition. We were just excited to show this film to a European audience,” Jadaone exclaimed.

Pinay Maeshyl Bunag who watched the premiere showing of “Sunshine” said she feels “lucky to get tickets because 30 minutes after the online tickets were released, it was already sold out.”

She expected many of the viewers would be Filipinos but was surprised and happy to find many westerners also watched the movie.

She observed the foreigners were curious and interested in the story of “Sunshine” especially as it delves into current social issues.

"It's high time that this kind of story especially about social issues we face back home, comes out to give the whole world an awareness about what is going on. This is because in other countries they are already very liberal about such issues. And I hope this film would give us an opportunity to change the minds of our legislators and put them into law,’ she continued.

On the premiere showing of “Sunshine”, Maeshyl was given the opportunity to join the question-and-answer session.

She was delighted to get the answer from the main actor, Elijah Canlas, that he is pro-choice and pro-divorce with regards abortion, same-sex marriage and divorce.

Film Director Antoinette Jadaone and actor Elijah Canlas speaking to the audience [Photo by Racquel Helena Abagat}

This was also the first time for Racquel Helena Abagat to watch a film at the Berlinale.

She has been living in Berlin since 2019.

Racquel views the film as very progressive because the theme of abortion remains a taboo subject in the Philippines and for her, the experience was overwhelming and inspiring.

“.. being able to witness that, being shown in a global audience is kind of like an eye opener not just for the Filipinos but also for other people because they are not aware that abortion is illegal in the Philippines and it’s still an ongoing topic right now... if I was also in Sunshine’s shoes and living in the Philippines I would also think twice about my decision," she said.

She was thrilled to learn that her screenshot of the film she posted on Instagram was reposted by Maris Racal.  

"I think she reposted that because she felt tears of joy because the director and actor themselves acknowledge that she worked hard for this project to be done. Kind of like a “kilig” (thrilling) moment for me because an artist wouldn’t just repost something so I think she valued it so much,”

"Sunshine" director Antoinette Jadaone and actor Elijah Canlas attended the premiere night of their movie at Makeba Auditorium last February 18 in Berlin, Germany. [Photo by Racquel Helena Abagat}

Direk Antoinette was grateful for the strong support of Pinoys in Germany.

 “Thank you always for supporting Filipino films not just in Germany but anywhere else in the world that each time we show Filipino films Pinoys are always there to support. So this is what keeps the industry alive not just in the Philippines but Philippine cinema all over the world."

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watch the news report here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfxtEEbbIIs

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