FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Natalie Wulderk
202-939-3117
nwulderk@niaf.org

– Deadline to Submit is March 1 –

(Washington, D.C. – January 15, 2019) Directors Anthony and Joe Russo, in conjunction with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), are excited to announce that applications are now open for The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum.

Each year, the program awards multiple $8,000 grants to ambitious filmmakers around the country to create documentary, fiction or non-fiction narrative films that explore the Italian American experience for the benefit of future generations. Grants are open to people of all nationalities and backgrounds. The grants will be awarded based solely on the promise of a film’s premise, how it relates to the Italian American experience and the creative potential of the filmmakers.

Anthony and Joe Russo are among Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful directors, having helmed TV sensations Community and Arrested Development, as well as global blockbusters: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Their next film, Avengers: Endgame (2019) will be released in April. All four films are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their film Avengers: Infinity War became the first superhero film to gross over $2 billion and the highest-grossing film of 2018 worldwide, as well as the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time and in the United States and Canada.

“The number of applications for the Film Forum grants increase significantly with each passing year,” said Anthony and Joe Russo. “In fact, last year, we and the sponsors decided to increase both the number and dollar amount of grants awarded for 2018. We were incredibly impressed with the quality and creativity of the films submitted last year and are looking forward to those that will be part of this year’s program.”

Deadline to submit grant applications is March 1, 2018, 11:59 p.m. PST. For full timeline of all relevant dates, instructions and application, please visit www.niaf.org/filmforum.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Italian American heritage and culture. Based in Washington, D.C., it is the major advocate for nearly 25 million Italian Americans, the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.niaf.org.

For 88 years, The Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) has kept a strong sense of community alive and thriving to become one of the largest and most financially successful Italian American organizations in the country. The ISDA unites Italian Americans across states nationwide to celebrate our culture and preserve the traditions our ancestors brought with them from Italy. To learn more about the ISDA and become a member, please visit www.orderisda.org.