Joe and Anthony Russo, Louis D'Esposito, Basil and Patricia Russo,
Jon Favreau, and Angela Russo-Otstot
Lights, camera, Italians!
Hollywood is fast becoming a new Italian diaspora!
Recent announcements of new leadership have shaken Tinseltown to its core. One of the biggest film franchises—Star Wars—now has an Italian American in charge. Dave Filoni replaces Kathleen Kennedy as president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm. And most recently, the mighty Disney made headlines with their announcement of Josh D’Amaro as new CEO, after the retirement of Bob Iger.
Credit the Russos—Anthony and Joe—for blazing a new trail of Hollywood superstars behind the camera. The brothers have directed two of the biggest films in Hollywood history—Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War. In addition, their studio AGBO has made a number of films to the praise of critics and audiences.
Joe and Anthony Russo,
Louis D'Esposito, Basil and Patricia Russo,
Jon Favreau, and Angela Russo-Otstot
Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, with their sister Angela Russo-Otstot, as chief creative officer, AGBO is an independent studio shaping the future of film and television. The Russo Brothers and AGBO projects have generated more than $7 billion at the global box office.
The studio’s slate includes the Academy Award–winning Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix hits The Gray Man and Extraction, and Prime Video’s global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 premieres in May 2026, while The Bluff debuts on Prime Video February 25, 2026.
Now in production with Netflix, AGBO is making Tygo and Mercenary, both set in the Extraction universe. With Lionsgate, AGBO has John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic franchise that starred Sylvester Stallone, in production. The studio is also in post-production on The Whisper Man, starring Robert De Niro, and soon to come, Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release December 18, 2026. Later this year, AGBO will begin filming Avengers: Secret Wars. Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and Marvel Studios.
The Russos offer a pathway to the land of film studios for young Italian Americans.
Now open—applications for 2026 Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum Fellowship.
The AGBO Foundation and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) have announced that applications opens today—February 18, 2026, for the 2026 Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF) Fellowship.
Now in its eighth year, the annual initiative invites emerging filmmakers to develop original short films to explore the Italian American experience through culture, language, history, land, and identity. The fellowship continues to serve as a vital platform for elevating authentic Italian American storytelling in contemporary cinema.
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Marvel The Italians
As part of its broader mission to celebrate Italian American achievement in entertainment, AGBO has also recognized established industry leaders whose work has shaped global storytelling.
Last year, AGBO presented the Renaissance Award to Stanley Tucci, honoring his distinguished career as an actor, writer, and advocate for Italian culture. In 2024, the award was presented to Louis D’Esposito, Co-President of Marvel Studios, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the film industry.
There is no shortage of Italian American talent when deciding who may receive the next Renaissance Award. Look no further than the stars of Marvel such as:
Chris Evans—Captain America—Italian on his mother’s side
Jon Favreau—Director of Iron Man—Italian on his father’s side
Mark Ruffalo—Bruce Banner/Hulk—Italian on his father’s side
Alan Silvestri—composer Avengers: Infinity Wars, Endgame, and Doomsday—grandparents emigrated from Piedmont
Bradley Cooper—voice of Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy—Italian on his mother’s side
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Fellowship Details
Applicants must submit a three-minute sizzle reel outlining their creative vision for a short film rooted in Italian American storytelling. From the pool of submissions, five filmmakers will each receive a $10,000 production grant to develop their films over several months.
One filmmaker will ultimately be selected for the top prize by a distinguished judging committee composed of the AGBO creative team and ISDA leadership. The committee includes AGBO Co-Founders and Partners Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, and ISDA National President Basil Russo, who also leads the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations.
The grand prize winner will receive an additional $10,000 grant and admission into the AGBO Storytellers Collective.
Maky Rupert's "St. Joseph" earned top prize for RBIAFF 2025
The AGBO Storytellers Collective serves as an alumni network supporting filmmakers recognized through AGBO’s fellowships and competitions. Members receive mentorship, industry guidance, and collaborative opportunities designed to help advance ambitious creative careers.
At the 8th Annual Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum, St. Joseph directed by Maky Rupert, earned the top prize for RBIAFF 2025. The film follows a group of estranged cousins who return to their childhood home in search of a statue of St. Joseph that their Italian grandmother buried in the yard decades earlier for good luck.
Through its intimate and nostalgic journey, the film explores grief, adulthood, family reconciliation, and the enduring strength of cultural tradition. “St. Joseph” will officially receive its award at the upcoming RBIAFF Awards Gala.
Since its founding in 2017, the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum has awarded more than $550,000 in grants to over 55 filmmakers, championing emerging voices while celebrating Italian American heritage through compelling and authentic storytelling.
Submissions for the 2026 Fellowship open February 18 and close March 18, 2026.
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Editor’s Note: The web site for the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum is https://www.agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forum
The Italian American Sons and Daughters of America is https://orderisda.org
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations is https://copomiao.org
The website for Marvel Studios is https://www.marvel.com/movies