Will this woman become Toronto’s first canonized saint?
From the director of Bridge of Roses and Permission comes a new feature-length docudrama on the life of
SERVANT OF GOD SR. CARMELINA TARANTINO OF THE CROSS
Watch the crowdfunding video below and learn how you can help us bring Sister’s life to the screen!
CROWDFUNDING ON NOW
Click the button below to donate to the film. Every contribution is greatly appreciated!
FUNDRAISING GOALS
Seed funding goal: $100,000
• Interviews with people who knew and loved Sister
• Filming in Canada and Italy
• Casting/planning dramatized recreations of the pivotal moments of Sister’s life
Estimated film budget: $500,000
LEVELS OF GIVING
$150 - Make Us Smile
$500 - Make Us Really Smile
$2,500 - Make Our Hearts Smile
$5,000 - Become An Associate Producer
$10,000 - Become A Co-Executive Producer
Other - Share Your Smile
Servant of God Sr. Carmelina Tarantino was an Italian immigrant who spent 23 years confined to a hospital bed with terminal cancer, paralyzed from the shoulders down, and having undergone a major amputation. Despite this extreme suffering, she became a beacon of hope to thousands in the Greater Toronto Area and throughout the world. They called and wrote, seeking her council or simply her prayers. Her cause for canonization was the first put forward by the Archdiocese of Toronto and many believe she may one day be recognized as Toronto’s first saint.
About Sr. Carmelina
Smiling from the Cross: The Story of Sr. Carmelina Tarantino is a feature-length docudrama from DunnMedia & Entertainment and Reelife Media in association with the Passionist Sisters Of Saint Paul of the Cross in Rome, Italy and Toronto, Canada.
The film will chronicle the life of Sr. Carmelina Tarantino through interviews, archival photographs and footage, and dramatic reenactments. It will trace her early years, the surgeries and suffering that marked her life, the remarkable vocation and ministry that emerged from them, as well as the lasting impact she left in Toronto and beyond. Interwoven throughout, the film will also explore the ministry of the Passionist Sisters in Toronto today, a result of Sr. Carmelina’s vocation, and offer a reflection on the theological understanding of redemptive suffering.
In a society that often struggles to find meaning in suffering, Sr. Carmelina’s life stands as a powerful witness to how suffering, when united to Christ, can become redemptive and a source of love and hope for others, something deeply needed in our world today. Smiling from the Cross seeks to foster devotion to Sr. Carmelina, renew interest in her cause for canonization, and continue her ministry by sharing her story and witness with the world, bringing hope to those who suffer today.
About the Film
About the Filmmakers
Kevin Dunn
Kevin Dunn is an award-winning filmmaker whose recent works include: Bridge of Roses: The Story of Our Lady of the Cape; Permission: Fr. Bob Bedard’s Vision for the Church; Fatal Flaws: Legalizing Assisted Death and the upcoming Of Blood and Water: The Story of the North American Martyrs and Indigenous Apostles.
Each of his productions underscore the impact of individuals who became "prophets of hope” in their time on earth. His films on faith, family, and the dignity of the human person, have touched the hearts and minds of thousands around the world and have been seen on networks in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Russia and the Middle East.
He lives near Toronto, Ontario with his wife of 39 years. Together, they have been blessed with six children and thirteen grandchildren. His films can be seen at dunnmedia.ca.
Joseph D’Amario
Joseph D’Amario is a Canadian filmmaker with credits in writing, directing, producing, cinematography, and editing. He graduated as valedictorian from Toronto Film School in 2023 and his work has been featured in various festivals. See more at reelifemedia.com.
Sr. Carmelina had a profound impact on Joseph’s own family who, like many at the time would line the halls of Riverdale Hospital, waiting to visit and talk to her. He grew up inspired by those stories and carries a personal devotion to her and her cause.
While this is his first time producing a feature-length docudrama, he has previously worked with DunnMedia as a camera operator and editor on such films as ROE Canada: The True North in a Post-ROE World and Permission: Fr. Bob Bedard’s Vision for the Church.