EXCLUSIVE: First Light director James J Robinson applauds All We Imagine As Light for its global connect, reflects on India’s spiritual impact
Zee News
In this exclusive conversation with Zee News, Filipino-Australian filmmaker James J Robinson discusses his debut feature First Light, the response it has got at various film festivals, and the significance of India as a key market.
Filipino-Australian filmmaker James J. Robinson has been making headlines for taking his debut feature, First Light to the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film brings to the viewers the story of an elderly nun who has multiple tough moral questions to combat in the Philippines. It also delves deeper into crucial themes such as colonialism, faith, institutional corruption among others. For the unversed, the film - which features Ruby Ruiz and Kare Adea in key roles - had premiered at 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival. Ruby essays the role of Sister Yolanda - a nun whose life undergoes a drastic change when a young construction worker dies in suspicious circumstances. The shocking incident pushes her to question the church and the community she had served for decades. Excerpts from an interview…
First Light marks your feature directorial debut. Clearly it is an important milestone that comes with significant responsibility and expectations. How are you navigating this both professionally and personally?
It's a funny feeling. I think there's a lot of pressure on the first film. And for a long time, it was a pressure of trying to make everything absolutely perfect. And then at a certain point, I think I zoomed out a little bit and considered that I'm like, ‘Oh, I'm going to have a lifelong career in this’. What's more important for this film is just to be learning and to approach it in an open-minded manner. Since it is my first film, there was a lot of pressure on me to make sure that I was speaking with an honest voice of an author. But for the most part, I approached it with an open mind and knew I'm here to learn.
This isn't the only film I'd make. So I just needed to approach it like a disciple to this medium. Honestly speaking, I've spent many, many years trying to eventually write something that I felt was worth telling in such a grand way. So yes, it has been a very beautiful process.
Your film recently had a European premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam, which is a massive milestone. With a diverse and international audience, the film will now be exposed to a massive range of viewers. What sort of reactions are you anticipating? Are there any particular markets you are considering? Do you see India as a strong market for a project like this?
