The RBIAFF runs a yearly filmmaker fellowship program and collaborates with the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). Production grants are offered for up-and-coming filmmakers looking to craft stories on the screen involving the Italian American heritage. The top 5 applicants who receive the grant will get the chance to create a short film based on the submitted concept. The winning film will be chosen by a selection committee including executives at AGBO and leadership at the ISDA.

Filmmakers looking to apply for the RBIAFF grant can sign up starting on February 1, 2024. at https://agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forum

Louis D’esposito has been an executive producer at Marvel Studios since 2008’s Iron Man. His credits include Marvel’s The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and many more. He has worked with the Russo Brothers on films like Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

“We’re greatly privileged to honor our esteemed friend, Louis D’Esposito, for his remarkable contributions. His tireless dedication to preserving and promoting Italian American culture profoundly resonates with us and perfectly aligns with the Filmmaker Forum’s commitment to cultural preservation through storytelling and film,” stated Anthony and Joe Russo.

The RBIAFF event will unite prominent members of the Italian American community and reflect AGBO’s core values of fostering creativity, advancing education, and supporting communities in need, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful narrative of culture enrichment and philanthropy.

Featured image courtesy of Marvel Studios.

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To help independent filmmakers all around the world, the Russo Brothers and AGBO held the “No Sleep ’til Film Fest,” a 48-hour filmmaking competition that was held this year in late September/early October. Prizes for winners were sponsored by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, AGBO and Red Bull. The winners also get to be part of the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs.

Today, AGBO announced the three winners of the film competition. You can check out the winners and their info below:

Irish filmmaker Darren Hinchy wins first place. Currently residing in Canada, Darren wins for his short “Time of Your Life” about a college freshman’s life unfolding solely on her phone screen.

Ukrainian filmmaker Tanya and Russian filmmaker Teodar Klimov take the second spot for their short, “Just a Sec!” a humorous drama about a man who halts his own funeral to deal with unfinished affairs.

In third place, New York City playwright and screenwriter Grace McLeod wins for “02:00 Minutes,” a story of two best friends waiting for the results of a pregnancy test and imagining different outcomes in possible future timelines.

The judges for “No Sleep ’til Film Fest” include AGBO Co-Founders and Directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust, Chief Marketing Officer Marian Koltai-Levine, President of Film Michael Disco and President of TV Scott Nemes.

The first place prize is a RED KOMODO Starter Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag (Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of Vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle).

The runner-ups receive a new camera from GoPro, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, merch from AGBO and a swag bag from Red Bull. All three winners get to join the AGBO Storytellers Collective.

You can check out the winning short films on AGBOVERSE.com/NoSleep

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“No Sleep ’til Film Fest” brings filmmakers together as they create a short film that’s three minutes or less in just 48 hours. Contestants will compete to win prizes and mentorship from AGBO. The festival will be accepting submissions from September 29th – October 1st with a prompt releasing on September 29th at 5 p.m. PT. Filmmakers will have 48 hours to create and submit their films based on the prompt by October 1st at 5 p.m. PT. Winners will be announced on November 8th.

In the past two years, AGBO’s “No Sleep ’til Film Fest” has received over 1400 submissions from over 60 countries. The winners for 2022 included “P E N” from director Waldo Levendal (South Africa), “Trade” from director Joel Phillips (Australia), and “The Movie, The Film: A Motion Picture” from director Clay Lacey.

The judges include Anthony and Joe Russo, Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust, Chief Marketing Officer Marian Koltai-Levine, President of Film Michael Disco and President of Television Scott Nemes.

The three winning films will premiere on the AGBOVERSE and AGBO’s social channels, and the winners will receive prizes provided by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, AGBO and Red Bull.

The first place winner will receive the RED Komodo Start Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Microsoft Surface Pro 9, Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve Studio, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag (Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle). The two runner-ups will each receive a new GoPro camera, Microsoft Surface Pro 9, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AGBO merch, and a Red Bull swag bag.

All the winners will get to be a part of the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs. Current members are able to participate in judging, selecting an additional winning filmmaker to receive the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” and join the alumni network.

For more information and to compete in the festival, you can visit https://AGBO.com/NoSleep. There is no entry fee and it is open to filmmakers from all over the world.

AGBO’s productions include Everything Everywhere All at Once, Netflix’s The Gray Man, Prime Video’s Citadel, and Netflix’s Extraction 2 starring Chris Hemsworth.

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