The Russo Brothers Italian
American Film Forum Grant

The Russo Brothers

Successful Italian American filmmakers, Anthony and Joseph Russo, have a cinematic repertoire that reaches from the highest grossing Marvel films, to Emmy’s for their prime-time projects. As active members of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), they’ve partnered with NIAF and ISDA to develop The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum.

Overview

The Forum provides an incredible opportunity for inspired and creative artists to craft films that explore the Italian American experience. Joe and Anthony invite you to explore the present, past, and future of this unique and important cultural expression and identity.

A select number of applicants will be awarded a $8,000 grant that serves as a production budget for the story they’d like to develop and create for the screen. Documentary, narrative, fiction, and nonfiction are all acceptable formats. There are few rules to the content of your film, only that it illuminates some aspect of the Italian American experience.

Eligibility

These grants are open to people of all nationalities and backgrounds, as the Italian American culture has touched so many of us in profound and resonant ways.

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.

The timeline below highlights all of the key dates to be aware of throughout the program’s entirety. If you’re selected for our grant, your acceptance means an obligation to deliver a film within the bounds of what you outline in the following application pages and by the due date listed below. Failure to complete a film by the final due date or delivery of a film unrelated or outside its immediate description written within the application will result in a full revocation of funds and complete disqualification.

NIAF and ISDA will display the films on their respective websites and reserve the right to screen the films at NIAF and ISDA events as well as not-for-profit events.

We couldn’t be more excited to offer a platform for voices worldwide to tell original Italian American stories.

The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum Application Now Open!

– Deadline to Submit is March 1 –

(Washington, D.C. – January 11, 2021) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), in conjunction with Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), is very pleased to announce that the applications are now open for The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum.

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Now in its fifth year, the program annually 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). One of their most recent film, Avengers: Endgame (2019) became the first superhero film to gross more than $2.8 billion and the highest-grossing film worldwide to date.

“The number of applications for the Film Forum grants increase significantly with each passing year,” said Anthony and Joe Russo. “We have been incredibly impressed with the quality and creativity of the films submitted in the past and are looking forward to those that will be part of this year’s program.”

Deadline to submit grant applications is March 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. PST. For full timeline of all relevant dates, instructions, and the application, please visit www.niaf.org/filmforum.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving, promoting 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 and to become a member, please visit www.niaf.org.

ABOUT THE ITALIAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA
For 90 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.

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Timeline

(DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Application opens: January 11, 2021
Application deadline: March 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. PT
All applicants notified: April 1, 2021
Deadline for completed film submission: September 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. PT
All applicants who submitted films notified. Three finalists chosen and invited to NIAF Gala Weekend in Washington, D.C. September 30, 2021
Screening of films at Expo Italiana during the NIAF Gala Weekend: October 23, 2021
Announcement of winning film at the NIAF Gala Dinner: October 23, 2021

Apply

For questions, visit our FAQs page. Still need help? Contact Gabriella Mileti at gmileti@niaf.org

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