About RBIAFF:
The Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum provides an incredible opportunity for inspired and creative artists to craft films that explore the Italian American experience. In conjunction with the AGBO Foundation and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, we invite you to explore the present, past, and future of Italian American cultural expression and identity.
 


RBIAFF Application: 
A sizzle reel at least 30 seconds but no longer than 3 minutes that effectively conveys the applicant’s ideas and skill to later create a short film exploring the Italian American experience.
 

RBIAFF Prompt: 
RBIAFF accepts Participants who seek to develop and create stories for the screen that illuminate aspects of the Italian American experience -- whether that be to elevate and educate about Italian American culture, language, history, land, or people through the art of film. The RBIAFF application accepts documentary, narrative, fiction, and nonfiction formats of submissions, and applicants of all nationalities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. A Participant may be an individual or a team of two people.
  


RBIAFF Judges:
Leadership at AGBO and National Leadership of ISDA.

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes:
$10,000 grant to the Top 5 Participants selected by the judges. Admittance to the AGBO Storytellers Collective and an additional $10,000 for the Top Winner selected by the judges.

Rules & Terms

Please refer to www.agbo.com/community/the-russo-brothers-italian-american-filmmaker-forum for the full Official Rules.

Submission Checklist:

Initial Submission:
To enter the Competition, each Participant must submit the following materials to FilmFreeway during the Initial Submission Period [February 18th, 2026 - March 18th, 2026].

Unless otherwise indicated or expressly agreed to by Sponsors, a Submission must be uploaded to FilmFreeway. To upload a Submission, a Participant must sign up for and log into their FilmFreeway account (which is free to create), comply with all FilmFreeway requirements, and include all items listed below. Visit Film Freeway at this link for more details on FilmFreeway. Each Participant must upload the following where directed to do so by FilmFreeway:

1. One (1) Pitch Video, with a minimum total runtime of thirty (30) seconds and a maximum total runtime of three (3) minutes, that effectively conveys the Participant’s ideas and skills and explores the story of the Italian American experience, whether it is about the people, language, land, culture or history. The Pitch Video may be in a documentary, narrative, fiction or nonfiction format. Animation entries will be accepted.

2.The Participant’s biography in two hundred fifty (250) words or less and headshot (including a biography and headshot for both members of a Team, if applicable).

3. The Participant’s resume (including a resume for both members of a Team, if applicable).

4. A written statement by the Participant of no longer than five hundred (500) words detailing how the Participant’s personal experience and/or connection to the Italian American community has influenced the conception of their Submission. This statement should illustrate the Participant’s personal inspiration, the importance of depicting the proposed narrative on screen, their passion for Italian American storytelling and their motivation for participating in the Competition.

5. A written logline for the Pitch Video of fifty (50) words or less.

6. A written synopsis for the Pitch Video of two hundred fifty (250) words or less.

7. A completed questionnaire providing the following information:
(a) Credits for the Pitch Video.
(b) Project type/genre.
(c) Proposed budget for a Short Film.
(d) The Participant’s location in the United States.
(e) Whether the Participant is a first-time filmmaker.
(f) How the Participant heard about this Competition.

Limit: One (1) Initial Submission per Participant (and no member of a Team may make an additional Submission as an individual Participant).

If selected as a Finalist who receives a grant…

Finalist Submission:
Participants who are selected as Finalists must submit the following materials to the Website (again using FilmFreeway, unless expressly agreed to otherwise by Sponsors) during the Finalist Submission Period [April 27th, 2026 - November 9th, 2026]:

1. One (1) original Short Film with a maximum total runtime of forty (40) minutes in length.
(a) The Finalist Submission should further explore the Participant’s originally proposed story and theme of the Italian American experience to match the story that served as the focus of the Participant’s Pitch Video. The Finalist Submission should effectively convey the Participant’s storytelling ideas and filmmaking skills.
(b) The Short Film must be wholly original to the Participant. It may not include any materials created by third parties (for example, music, photographs, or footage) unless the Participant has secured all necessary consents and licenses and can provide those to Sponsors upon request. If requested, Sponsors will provide documents that should be used to obtain licenses for third-party materials.

2. The Participant’s biography and headshot (including a biography and headshot for both members of a Team, if applicable).

3. A short logline for the Short Film (fifty (50) words or less).

4. A detailed synopsis for the Short Film (two hundred fifty (250) words or less).

5. A signed participant agreement which Sponsors will provide to Participant upon selection as a Finalist.