First Light (2026)

Wissenswertes

First Light is a 2025 drama film written and directed by James J. Robinson, in his feature debut. A co-production of Philippines and Australia, it stars Ruby Ruiz, Kare Adea, Maricel Soriano, Emmanuel Santos, Rez Cortez, Soliman Cruz, and Kidlat Tahimik.

Production

The film received development funding from Screen Australia in 2023, with additional production financing from VicScreen, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Clou Media Productions, and the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund. Principal photography took place on location in the Philippines in May 2024.

The film marked James J. Robinson’s transition from photography to feature filmmaking. Robinson has stated that the project was a way of reconnecting with his Filipino and Australian heritage and re-examining his Catholic upbringing. Much of the cast and crew were based in the Philippines, and Robinson noted that working in the country allowed him to engage with family histories and spiritual practices that influenced the film’s perspective.

During production, Robinson reported that an exorcism took place on set, reflecting the religious context in which the film was made. Ruby Ruiz described her role as demanding significant emotional intensity, while Kare Adea recalled that Robinson emphasised silence and physical expression during performance. Robinson later described the filmmaking process as “a really beautiful” merging of his Australian and Filipino cultural backgrounds.

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