LOS ANGELES, CA – January 29th, 2025: AGBO, and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), are proud to announce the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF) 2025 Renaissance Award recipient, Stanley Tucci, acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and author for his outstanding contributions to Italian American heritage and the entertainment industry. The award will be presented at the second annual Renaissance Award celebration event on February 22nd at AGBO’s Downtown LA studio.
Tucci, a six-time Emmy Award winner, two-time Golden Globe winner, Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Tony Award nominee, is celebrated for his extensive contributions to the entertainment industry for over four decades. His celebrity.land culinary travel series, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, earned two Primetime Emmy Awards and showcased his deep connection to his Italian heritage, particularly to his family’s roots in Marzi, Calabria. Tucci is also a New York Times Best bestselling author of multiple books, including The Tucci Cookbook, What I Ate in One Year, and the memoir Taste: My Life Through Food. His dedication to the art of storytelling and Italian culture resonates deeply with the mission of the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmakers Forum. Stanley Tucci recently starred in the Golden Globe winning film, Conclave, and the AGBO produced Amazon television series, Citadel, which recently wrapped production on its secondseason directed by Joe Russo. He also stars in the upcoming Netflix film The Electric State directed by the Russo Brothers which also stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt and is set to release on March 14th.
“We are thrilled to honor Stanley Tucci, whose extraordinary career reflects a deep commitment to the celebration of Italian culture and artistry,” said Anthony and Joe Russo. “His work has inspired audiences worldwide and elevated Italian American heritage on a global stage. This award is a testament to his remarkable contributions and enduring legacy.”
February will also mark the launch of the RBIAFF 2025 Fellowship, an initiative inviting emerging filmmakers to develop films exploring the Italian American experience. Applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their vision and skills through a three-minute sizzle reel that conveys their idea for a film highlighting aspects of Italian American culture, language, history, land, or people.
From these applications, five filmmakers will be selected to receive a $10,000 grant to create a short film based on their idea over several months. From these five films created, a selection committee composed of executives at AGBO and leadership at the ISDA will choose a winner to receive an additional $10,000 and admittance into the AGBO Storytellers Collective (StoCo).
The AGBO Storytellers Collective is an alumni network exclusive to those honored through AGBO’s fellowships and competitions. It provides mentorship, industry guidance, and a platform to collaborate with fellow emerging filmmakers. As a supportive community, the Collective empowers its members to continue growing as artists and realizing their creative ambitions.
Since its inception in 2017, the fellowship has granted over $450,000 to more than 50 filmmakers. In 2024, filmmaker Joe Picozzi won for his film, My Kind of People. Picozzi’s short film tells the story of a proud paesano who, after a DNA test reveals his father’s adoption, must grapple with the devastating realization that he’s not genetically Italian. As the foundation of his identity crumbles and his familial bonds fracture, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, wrestling with the meaning of heritage, belonging, and identity.
Submissions for the RBIAFF 2025 Fellowship open on February 7, 2025, and close on March 7, 2025. [For more information visit https://www.agbo.com/]
ABOUT AGBO
Established in 2017 by acclaimed directors Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO’s mission is to propel the next era of storytelling by developing and producing universe-driven intellectual properties that span film, TV, and interactive. As a powerhouse independent studio founded and operated by a collective of artists with decades of experience, AGBO has consistently shattered audience records with its globally resonant content. In recent years, AGBO has achieved record-breaking success in both box office and streaming, setting new standards in global entertainment. The Russo Brothers and AGBO have had 14 number one global openings with over seven billion in box office including Marvel’s highest grossing film of all time; Avengers: Endgame. Everything Everywhere All at Once broke records for A24 by winning seven Academy Awards including Best Picture in 2023. The Russo Brothers-directed film The Gray Man sits in the top six of Netflix’s “most viewed of all time” list, and the Chris Hemsworth-starrer Extraction has become Netflix’s most successful franchise to date. Additionally, following its April 2023 release, the first season of Citadel was Prime Video’s second most-watched new original series outside the U.S., with it’s Italian & Indian series, Citadel: Diana & Citadel: Honey Bunny, with both being in the top watched new original series worldwide. AGBO has just completed principal photography on the Amazon MGM film The Bluff directed by Frank E. Flowers and has commenced production on Citadel Season 2 in London with Joe Russo directing. Recently announced this summer, AGBO will be producing, alongside Marvel, the Russo Brothers-directed films Avengers: Doomsday set to release May 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars set to release May 2027. https://www.agbo.com/
ABOUT AGBO FOUNDATION
The AGBO Foundation is a philanthropic initiative founded by Anthony and Joe Russo, the visionary creators behind AGBO. Committed to harnessing the transformative power of storytelling, media, and the arts, the foundation strives to inspire meaningful change in our world. By fostering creativity, advancing education, and supporting communities in need, the AGBO Foundation seeks to provide opportunities for everyone to be part of a larger narrative. Collaborating with diverse partners, the foundation champions the value of cultural preservation, empowerment, and social progress. Through a blend of creative endeavors and strategic initiatives, the AGBO Foundation envisions a future where the convergence of art and empathy drives lasting impact on a global scale.
CONTACT
Marian Koltai-Levine mkoltai@agbo.com
Sarah Caruso scaruso@agbo.com
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source orderisda.org ’
