MANILA -- It’s final. Maris Racal will not be attending TIFF or the Toronto International Film Festival. 

Racal is the lead actress of "Sunshine," the lone Filipino film participating at this year’s TIFF.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News before departing for Italy to shoot scenes for her upcoming series ‘Incognito,’ Racal shared why she won’t be able to go to Toronto and how ABS-CBN tried to pull strings to make it work, but to no avail. 

“I made a committment kasi and this (‘Incognito’ shoot in Italy) is booked na way early this year. I appreciate naman the production and ABS-CBN, they really tried to move things around for me ‘cause they know how important TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) is for me. They really tried. They really tried to change the schedule but matagal na talagang naka-book 'yung Italy.”

She added: “Doable naman sana kung sa Pilipinas lang 'yung shoot, kaso sa Italy kasi ang daming madadamay na schedules, na-book na mga places.”

The irony of it all, Racal just received her passport the morning of the day of her Italy flight with the Canadian visa approval.  

“My visa got approved kaninang umaga (September 10). Heartbreaking. But it’s not about me naman eh, the important thing is there is a Filipino movie na kasama sa TIFF 2024. Direk Tonet (Jadaone) will be there. I’ll be there in spirit. Beaming with pride, I’m in Italy to support them.”

Heartbreaking as it may sound, she said, “I’ve moved on. Ang dami ko nang naiyak, I’m like okay lang ako.”

TIFF is one of the top five international movie festivals that is celebrated globally. And Racal knew how big this opportunity is and how this can open a lot of doors for her. 

“I heard na sold out na lahat ng tickets. Thankful ako, excited ako sa mga reaction ng mga tao,” she said.  

Her director in the movie, Antoinette Jadaone, said there weren’t any promo executions planned yet for "Sunshine" and they just really surprised everyone with the trailer drop last August 30. Racal was overwhelmed with the reaction she received. 

“Hindi ko in-expect na ganun 'yung pagka-accept ng trailer. A tear fell. Sobrang natuwa ako, kasi ang daming lumabas na tao na they were rooting for you since day one. Thankful din ako for Direk Tonet for trusting me with this huge responsibility. Hindi biro 'yung role na 'yun,” Racal said.

It was a tough role, combined with overlapping schedules of the movie and the TV series she was on, during that time.  

“I was shooting that while shooting ‘Can’t Buy Me Love.’ There are days talaga na lutang na ko. But everything was really worth it. Literal na blood, sweat and tears upon making the film. I’m so happy na mapapanood na siya ng mundo,” she said. 

Two words to describe Racal at the moment are booked and busy. She and her onscreen partner Anthony Jennings are on a roll, working on different projects all at once. Apart from the action series 'Incognito," two days ago they just wrapped up filming the MMFF movie ‘And the Breadwinner is…’ with Vice Ganda, and they are in the middle of filming their movie with director Jason Paul Laxamana. 

How do they do it? 

“Tulungan lang talaga. We lift each other up,” said Racal.

Jennings added: “Sobrang daming binibigay na blessings sa amin. Sobrang saya lang na na-a-apply na namin 'yun sa work namin, kasi nag-a-acting workshops kami.”

RELATED VIDEOS: