Antonio’s Road Makes Its World Premiere at the Pasadena International Film Festival

The heartwarming immigration drama earned its Official Selection laurels and screened before a live audience for the first time

The Pasadena International Film Festival, known by its tagline “Class, Community, Culture,” welcomed filmmakers, cast, and audiences this month for what proved to be an emotional and memorable world premiere of Antonio’s Road, a feature film written, directed, and produced by Donna DiGiuseppe under her production banner, Lady in Ermine Productions.

Actress Heidi School plays Sister Martha, an Irish nun in Antonio’s Road

The film tells a multigenerational story of two immigrants beginning their American journeys in 1929: Antonio, who travels from Italy, and Mary, who crosses from Ireland, following both families across generations as they build their lives in a new country. The tagline says it plainly: a heartwarming American immigration story. Cast member and producer Heidi Schooler, who plays Sister Martha, an Irish nun working in 1930s New York City to help women and families find employment after arriving through Ellis Island, describes the film as something deep.

“I think our film is poignant, but also touches on something really important to us all, our freedom, and why we all came here, seeking dreams,” Schooler said. “I feel it’s always been an important issue throughout the years, but especially now, more than ever.”

The film stars Andrew P. Rogers in the title role of Antonio, alongside Valeria Di Menno, Toni Maddocks, Kevin Medlin, Rose McAvoy, Isabella Basco, and Joshua Malekos. Schooler, a producer on the project in addition to her acting role, spoke warmly of the experience working alongside DiGiuseppe. “Donna was a great director to work with, and I feel all of her hard work is in this film,” she said ahead of the premiere screening.

Production took the cast and crew to multiple locations, including the historic Hibernia Bank building in San Francisco, which served as the interior stand-in for Ellis Island. The film also shot in Italy, with cinematography contributions from Gabriele Bucari through Filo Production.

At the festival, the Antonio’s Road team took advantage of PIFF’s filmmakers’ lounge, hosted at a nearby venue called Brews Brothers Pub, complete with a step-and-repeat backdrop, where cast and crew gathered between screenings. “They’ve amassed quite a line-up of films,” Schooler noted of the festival itself. “I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the films they have from all over the world, and all of the diverse storylines.”

The world premiere screening marked the first time the full film was seen by a live audience, a milestone for any independent production years in the making.

Here’s to class, community, and culture!