Grant Recipient, Steven Ruggiero,  Completes Two Projects (2026)
Steven Ruggiero, Fordham University graduate, has completed a dance film, Threshold, with the help of a grant from the William F. DIPietra Foundation.  Steven also recently completed a book of beautiful 35mm photos, Bricks & Bones, that he shot in Italy and developed at home in New York.  He used film to "preserve the art form itself" and to try to connect with the places he visited. Steven says, "I thought these goals might align with William's values."  They certainly do, because William was a film purist who believed nothing digital could match the integrity of film.  Congratulations, Steven!

William F. DiPietra Grant Recipients are Headed to the Cannes Film Festival! (May 2024)

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Exciting news for the William F. DiPietra Foundation!  One of our

grant recipients has been working on a feature-length film for

four years, and today it was announced that the film will be shown

at the Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight.  It was filmed with

one of Bill's 16mm Arri cameras, and the film is also dedicated

to Bill.  Congratulations to Ryan Sloan, Ariella Mastroianni and

their entire Telstar Productions team.  Thank you for sharing this

honor with Bill.

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Update, Sept. 2024:

Rian and Ariella's film was sold at the Festival. Read all about it here:   Gazer is sold!

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​​Update, April 2025:

Gazer premiered at the Angelika Theater in New York City on April 4, 2025.  Premieres followed in Washington, D.C. (April 8th), Dallas (April 9th), Austin (April 10th), Los Angeles (April 11th and 12th), Sacramento (April 13th) and San Diego (April 14th).  Watch for Gazer at a theater near you!

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Update, January 2026:

Gazer is streaming on Netflix now!