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Considering the uncertain international situation due the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately it is not possible to guarantee the XII edition of the America Award, usually scheduled in October.

As a sign of hope and optimism, however, we decided to open the procedure for the nominations. The America Award is a prestigious recognition of great civil and institutional work. The award is mainly seen as a means to acknowledge and encourage initiatives and work aimed at favoring relationships between Europe and the United States of America. Clearly famous, eminent figures that have distinguished themselves in their work and have achieved the utmost excellence in their respective fields of interest and activities, and important results in favor of transatlantic friendship, will be considered.

Last years the jury has awarded among the others Andrea Bocelli, Paul Bremer, Carla Fendi, Gianni Letta, Carlo Cracco, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Oscar Farinetti, Alberto Angela, Brunello Cucinelli, Bebe Vio, Mario Andretti, Enrico Vanzina, Silvio Garattini, Tony Renis, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Manuel Agnelli, Gianni Riotta, Edward Luttwak, Alan Friedman, Carlo Rossella, Mario Moretti Polegato, Laura Biagiotti, Joe Bastianich, José Maria Aznar, Bruno Vespa, Alessandro Benetton, Margherita Missoni, Giovanni Allevi, Lucia Annunziata, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Alberta Ferretti, Christian De Sica, Ennio Morricone, Beatrice Trussardi, Umberto Veronesi, Renzo Arbore, Renato Balestra, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Alain Elkann, Paolo Limiti, Gualtiero Marchesi, Paolo Mieli, Monica Maggioni, Paolo Nespoli.

It’s possible to submit nominations for the awards, including a short motivation, by sending an email before May 30, 2021. If the ceremony will not be held, the nominations will be taken into consideration for the next edition.

The web live talk "Inauguration Day: Biden's America" will be held on January 21 at 5:30 pm. Speakers 

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), in conjunction with Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), is very pleased to announce that the applications are now open for The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum.

Now in its fifth year, the program annually awards multiple $8,000 grants to ambitious filmmakers around the country to create documentary, fiction or non-fiction narrative films that explore the Italian American experience for the benefit of future generations. Grants are open to people of all nationalities and backgrounds. The grants will be awarded based solely on the promise of a film’s premise, how it relates to the Italian American experience and the creative potential of the filmmakers.

Anthony and Joe Russo are among Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful directors, having helmed TV sensations Community and Arrested Development, as well as global blockbusters: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). One of their most recent film, Avengers: Endgame (2019) became the first superhero film to gross more than $2.8 billion and the highest-grossing film worldwide to date.

“The number of applications for the Film Forum grants increase significantly with each passing year,” said Anthony and Joe Russo. “We have been incredibly impressed with the quality and creativity of the films submitted in the past and are looking forward to those that will be part of this year’s program.”

Deadline to submit grant applications is March 1, 2021, 11:59 p.m. PST. For full timeline of all relevant dates, instructions, and the application, please visit www.niaf.org/filmforum.

NIAF Chairman The Honorable Patricia de Stacy Harrison said, “Governor Raimondo’s impressive career and business acumen has prepared her to serve the president and our nation in this important role. NIAF is proud that an Italian American woman has been nominated to serve as Secretary of Commerce advocating economic growth and opportunity. We congratulate the Secretary-designate.”

Born in Smithfield, R.I., Gov. Raimondo grew up in a working-class Italian American family and is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants who came to the United States when they were teenagers.

“We always had a very close family,” Gov. Raimondo told the Valley Breeze. “My grandpa lived in the house with us; we took care of him as he aged. We went to Mass as a family every Sunday, had dinner every night as a family.”

Gov. Raimondo graduated with honors in economics from Harvard University. She then won a Rhodes Scholarship for her doctorate from Oxford University and graduated from Yale Law School.

Before Gov. Raimondo started her public service career, she had more than ten years of experience growing businesses through venture capitalist firms. In 2010, she ran for Rhode Island’s state treasurer after learning that budget cuts were about to close Providence library branches where her grandfather learned English. She won that election and in 2014 she was elected governor, making her Rhode Island’s first female governor. She was reelected for a second term in 2018.