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.

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 films, “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.