The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on Friday overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit that was filed to block the planned removal of Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue, writing in a 24-page opinion that a lower court “erred” in its dismissal of the case in 2022. Philadelphia litigator George Bochetto filed the lawsuit, and subsequent appeal, on behalf of t...

Louis D’Esposito is one of the primary producers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the co-president of Marvel Studios. His family is originally from Torre del Greco, Naples, and two of the franchise’s greatest directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, are also of Italian heritage. Along with their sister, Angela Russo-Otstot, they have conceived and org...

Many times we have described the historical and cultural reasons why attacks on Columbus are based on falsehoods, unacceptable and wrong. The Italian American comity is defending itself and the symbol it has chosen, in different ways. One of these ways is the legal way. Those who removed the Columbus statues and cancelled Columbus Day, not only obe...

Within the Italian-American community, there is an ever-present concern that younger generations simply aren’t interested in their Italian heritage, a sentiment echoed among the older generation like a haunting refrain. The question, “How do we engage the youth” has been asked time and again, but until now, no one ever cared to answer it. Last Janu...

It’s a new day in Tinseltown. Italian Americans, of Hollywood, are, from now on, to be rightly recognized for their important contributions to cinema. New filmmakers are to be encouraged to make short films with themes related to the Italian American experience. Enter the Russos. Film directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, along with their sister, Angel...

Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL), an influential fellowship and networking platform that's empowering and engaging younger generations (ages 21 – 35), held its 2nd national conference, "IAFL2," at Amerant Bank Arena.  The latest conference was comprised of nearly 200 fellows (first-time attendees), alumni (returning attendees), mentors and pr...

January 18, 2024 Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum and presentation Inaugural Renaissance Award to Louis D’Esposito in Los Angeles, CA

Italian American leaders and entertainment industry luminaries came together this week to support the launch of the new Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum. RBIAFF, developed in collaboration with Italian Sons and Daughters of America, is a fellowship program that offers production grants to emerging filmmakers who seek to create storie...

Italian American Future Leaders, a fellowship and networking platform that's empowering and engaging younger generations (ages 21 – 35), held its' 2nd annual conference, "IAFL2," this past weekend at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.  The latest conference was comprised of fellows (first-time attendees), alumni (returning attendees), mentors and p...