For years, the actor, author and filmmaker turned down roles that reinforced Italian American tropes, risking success to honor those who preceded him and the generations to follow. On Feb. 22, Mr. Tucci received the 2025 Renaissance Award — presented by the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America — to recognize the elevation of both his craft and cultural pride.
The Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF) — founded by A-list directors Joe and Anthony Russo, along with their father, Basil Russo, national president of Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) — honored Stanley Tucci with the 2025 Renaissance Award for his outstanding contributions to both his heritage and the entertainment industry.
The award ceremony took place on Feb. 22 in downtown Los Angeles at AGBO, the Academy Award-winning independent film studio the Russo Brothers founded nearly a decade ago.
Before a crowd of L.A. luminaries and leaders of the Italian American community, Tucci held the Murano glass trophy and rose to the moment.
“Writers and producers felt no obligation for any sort of sociological justification or significant negative life-changing event that could explain the criminal behavior of an Italian character because that behavior was assumed to be innate. According to the world of Hollywood, our very nature was criminal, evil, even,” he said.
“Perhaps the primary trait in our collective Italian DNA is not a genetic predisposition toward evil but the opposite…it’s an innate desire to share stories about our culture, both past and present, that reflect the complexities and nuances of who we are as Italian Americans.”
Tucci’s words echoed the mission of RBIAFF, which was launched in 2017 to shift Hollywood’s portrayal of Italian Americans away from mafia tropes and toward authentic depictions of the Italian American experience. The annual fellowship awards $10,000 grants to a handful of emerging filmmakers, supporting projects that add depth to the culture.
Filmmaker Joe Picozzi was named the 2024 RBIAFF winner for his short film, My Kind of People. The story follows a proud paesano who, after a DNA test reveals his father was adopted, must grapple with the realization that he’s not genetically Italian. As his familial bonds fracture, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, wrestling with the meaning of heritage, belonging and identity.
“There’s nothing more powerful than a storyteller who can capture the lightheartedness, poignancy and struggle of our lives,” said Basil Russo. “These projects bring us closer to our culture and our shared experiences. This is just the beginning as we enter a new era of Italian American cinema, thanks to artists like Mr. Tucci and Mr. Picozzi.”
Over the past eight years, RBIAFF has awarded $450,000 in grants to more than 50 filmmakers.
The recipients of the 2025 RBIAFF grants will be announced in the coming weeks.
In 2024, Marvel Studios Co-President, Louis D’Esposito, received the inaugural RBIAFF Renaissance Award. D’Esposito was one of the architects behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it was he who helped launch the Russo Brothers’ comic book film canon, which includes Avengers: Endgame, the second-highest grossing film of all time.
The Russo Brothers next major release, The Electric State, which co-stars Stanley Tucci, will premiere on Netflix on March 14, 2025.
To learn more about the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), click here.
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