AGBO and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) have named the 2026 grant recipients for the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF). Five filmmakers were each awarded a $10,000 production grant to produce a short film based on an original concept that explores the Italian American experience.
The 2026 grant recipients and the concepts of their films were:
ALL ABOUT CLAIRE directed by Davide Fiore (California)
Logline: Among forgotten boxes in a dead neighbor’s basement, a filmmaker unearths the buried legacy of Claire Giannini Hoffman, an Italian-American woman so trusted by U.S. Presidents she represented American banking abroad, yet so thoroughly erased that history never whispered her name. Some silences are not accidents.
DUE VENTI (TWO WINDS) directed by Veronica Maccari (California)
Logline: When a former Italian champion sailor returns to Lake Como after becoming a U.S. citizen, she enters a local regatta to prove she still belongs – but the race forces her to confront what it means to live between two worlds.
IL FUNERALE directed by Jeremy Tyler Owens (California)
Logline: Amidst the chaotic, heartfelt drama of an Italian-American funeral, 13-year-old Jimmy is tasked with cooking a legacy family dish after his uncle’s death. When he discovers his late uncle’s secret daughter, Jimmy must decide if honoring his memory means keeping the truth buried or risking his family’s peace.
LEATHER FLOWERS directed by Lucie Reese (New York)
Logline: When a traditional Italian grandmother agrees to attend her granddaughter’s rock gig, memories of the life she dreamt of and abandoned resurface, forcing her to confront the woman she left behind to become the perfect Nonna.
THE SEMOLINA SCORE directed by Roman Molino Dunn (California)
Logline: Growing up with his Italian grandmother in rural Pennsylvania, a teenager begins to have synesthetic experiences. He soon realizes that the “inner melody” heard at the family table is the cumulative love of the generations who cooked before him.
Chief Creative Officer of AGBO and RBIAFF co-founder and judge Angela Russo-Otstot said: “Each year, the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum introduces filmmakers with distinct voices and perspectives. This year’s recipients have created stories that are deeply personal yet universally resonant, exploring themes of identity, connection, and belonging with honesty and nuance. At AGBO, we’re committed to championing emerging storytellers and creating space for bold, original voices to thrive, and we’re proud to support these artists as they bring their visions to life.”
Applicants from across the country submitted 3-minute sizzle reels, which were then reviewed by a committee composed of AGBO executives and ISDA leadership. The five chosen grant recipients will now have several months to complete their short films. Once the films are finished, one filmmaker will be chosen to receive an additional $10,000 grant and invited to join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of emerging filmmakers who have won AGBO fellowships or competitions.
To date, AGBO and the ISDA have awarded over $500,000 in RBIAFF grants, aiding over 50 passionate filmmakers to realize their creative visions.
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