Photos from acmi.net.au, First Light Film/Facebook
The Filipino Australian co-produced film, “First Light,” is set to screen at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15.
Written and directed by Filipino Australian filmmaker James J. Robinson, the film features a star-studded Filipino cast including Ruby Ruiz, Maricel Soriano and Soliman Cruz.
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The film centers around a mountain community in the Philippines, tackling the Filipino perspective of faith, justice and institutional corruption. After giving last rites to a young man, Sister Yolanda (played by Ruiz) pieces together the details of the man’s accident through her interactions with the community.
“Join us November 15 at 3 PM as we bring Australia’s official Oscar submission to one of the world’s leading institutions for Asian art and culture,” the filmmakers wrote on social media, highlighting the significance of the Smithsonian screening.
Director Robinson won the Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award for the film at the 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival.
The film is also Australia’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards, bringing Filipino talent to the global spotlight.
Admission is free, but online reservations are recommended.
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