If asked what is the first thing that comes to mind when one mentions the words “Italian” and “movies,” most answers would likely involve some combination of Godfather, Goodfellas, or Casino. There might even be a Bronx Tale or The Sopranos thrown in for good measure, even though the latter was a series on HBO and not a film. While these are all seminal classics, there is so much more to the Italian American story, which is why the National Italian American Foundation wants to help tell them. 

To change this narrative and enhance the cinematic cultural experience regarding Italians and Italian Americans, NIAF is hosting its first-ever “De Laurentiis Film Prizes Program,” inspired by the work of legendary filmmaker Aurelio De Laurentiis. It’s a film competition that provides a fantastic opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to submit their work that features “a story pertaining to Italians and Italian Americans.”