Imagine 125 men carrying a five-ton, five-story, hand-sculpted tower and a 12-piece brass band - on their shoulders - dancing it through their neighborhood in tempo to joyous Italian folk songs! For 300 year in Italy, and the past century in communities throughout the greater New York area, this glorious ritual known as "The Dance of Giglio" has been celebrated each summer with unbridled passion and devotion. This annual 65-foot-high moving monument to faith, folk-art and family honors a Roman Catholic Saint, San Paolino di Nola and his heroic act of sacrifice in the ancient Italian city of Nola in the year 409 A.D.
 
In HEAVEN TOUCHES BROOKLYN IN JULY, internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker Tony De Nonno takes audiences on an enlightening 1,600 year-old journey. By interweaving film footage spanning in the 20th century with warm and passionate interviews of Italian American men, women and children form five to ninety-five transporting this awe-inspiring tradition into the 21st Century.
 
Eighteen years in the making and lovingly edited from more than 140O hours of footage, HEAVEN TOUCHES BROOKLYN IN JULY is narrated by world-renowned actors John Turturro (Barton Fink, Illuminata) and Michael Badalucco (Emmy Award-winning star of ABC's "The Practice"). It is a historic film that all the world should see -- for if you look closely at he peoples faces and each lifter's smiling soulful eyes there is no denying that they feel blessed with a sense of knowing that HEAVEN TOUCHES BROOKLYN IN JULY.
 
57 Min. DVD

 
Orlando Furioso is a five foot tall performer living in Brooklyn, and is made of wood. Fifty years ago he was carved from oak and given a suit of armor by Papa Manteo and his children, and Orlando's sword still flashes on a stage.
 
In It's One Family: Knock On Wood, we meet puppeteers Mike and Aida Manteo, their children and grandchildren, a family bound together by a Sicilian folk tradition that dates back to the 16th Century.
 
Mike builds marionettes; Aida sews capes and gowns; on stage, Orlando woos Angelica in the court of Charlemagne, as the entire family works together to entertain audiences across America.
 
24 Min. DVD

 
Explore the fascinating life of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and learn how he was denied his rightful place in history. "Antonio Meucci: The Father of the Telephone" tells the story of an Italian-born mechanical engineer who held a US patent for a "speaking telegraph" in 1871 - five years before Alexander Graham Bell received credit and international acclaim for an almost identical device.
 
This documentary by award-winning filmmaker Tony De Nonno, transports you back to the 19th Century, "the Age of Invention" - a time of robber barons, mass immigration, and the growth of monopolies, when Civil Wars and quests for independence abounded worldwide. You will travel with the young Antonio Meucci as he leaves his native Italy, emigrates to Cuba, and eventually settles in the United States - where he devotes more than twenty years to perfecting his telephone invention - only to be denied the fame and fortune that should have rightfully been his.
 
Finally, you will visit Meucci's home in Staten Island, New York, which today is a national landmark - the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum - which honors Antonio Meucci as the true inventor of the telephone, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary general, "Hero of Two Worlds" and liberator of the Italian nation.
 
14 Min. DVD

 
Descri[tions Part of Your Loving focuses on an Italian-born baker, Ben Togati, who brings the bread making process to life with his words and hands. The motion and rhythm of his work give the bread making process a spiritual quality- making bread becomes an art, a celebration of life.
 
“The camera is always where it should be,” said The New Yorker's Pauline Kael, appraising the “beautiful, modest technique,” of Tony De Nonno on PBS Television Network. “Part of Your Loving is very well made,” she judged almost impeccable,” giving her nod to what New York Times film critic, Janet Maslin has dubbed “De Nonno's deft and impressive filmmaking... De Nonno is intuitively aware of the subject;s uniqueness and significance to our society.”
 
10 Min. DVD

 
Meet a diverse group of accomplished Italian immigrants who will share their personal accounts of growing up in Italy and coming to America. Through the inspiring stories of a 95-year-old World War I veteran, a New York State Supreme Court Justice, an alternative physician and an internationally renowned playwright, you will gain a unique perspective of life in Italy and America over the last century. Their combined revelations will captivate you, and provide you with an enlightening view of Italian Americans and a revealing look at the essence and complexity of the Italian Soul.
 
14 Min. DVD

 
JOHN N. LaCORTE: A MONUMENT TO HISTORY celebrates the life and accomplishments of John N. LaCorte, founder of the Italian Historical Society of America. Mr. LaCorte devoted his life to bringing honor and recognition to individuals of Italian decent who contributed greatly to the history and fabric of America and the world.
 
He was responsible for bringing to national attention the fact that William Paca, one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Maryland, was of Italian descent. LaCorte also brought to light and recognition scores of little-known facts about American history including the fact that Charles J. Bonaparte founded the FBI and that telephone inventor Antonio Meucci held a preliminary US patent for his telephone invention in 1871 - five years before Alexander Graham Bell patented his own telephone.
 
In addition, LaCorte was one of the driving forces behind getting Columbus Day recognized as a National Holiday. Perhaps one of his greatest achievements was his 14-year battle, and ultimate victory, in getting one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, the Verrazzano Bridge, which spans the mouth of New York harbor named, after the great Florentine navigator, Giovanni da Verrazzano. This special half-hour documentary invites you to experience the spirit, vision and philosophy of an extraordinary-ordinary American named John N. LaCorte.
 
26 Min. DVD

 
Serving Society with Heart chronicles UNICO National, our nation’s largest Italian American Service Organization and the remarkable impact it has had on American society over the last 85 years.
Documentary filmaker Tony De Nonno takes the audience on a heartwarming journey into UNICO's charitable giving, as it lives up to its motto of placing "Service about Self" --by offering support to individuals of all backgrounds beset by tragedy. De Nonno interweaves powerful images of children fighting cancer, defamation of Italian-Americans in the media, and students of all ages learning about the Italian language, history and culture with heartfelt testimonies by renowned educators, scientist, and community leaders.
 
Narrated by Michael Badalucco, Emmy award-winning start of ABC's "The Practice," this special features appearances by Matilda Raffa Cuomo, former First Lady of New York State; former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi; Abraham Foxman, Executive Director of the Anti-Defamation League; and Dr. Joseph Scelsa, President of the Italian American Museum.
 
UNICO National was born out of discrimination in 1922 when Dr. Anthony Vastola, a young physician was denied membership in an American service origination because he was of Italian descent. Today UNICO National's Anti-Bias Committee, has established itself as the nation's premier fighting force against the almost daily stereotyping of Italian-Americans in the media. A year in the making, and lovingly edited form more than 20 hours of footage, Serving Society With Heart, paints an inspiring portrait of UNICO, its members nationwide and their service and devotion to American Society.
 
26 Min. DVD

 
Young shoemaker, John Prince, invites you into his shop to share the pleasure he gets from his work and the pride he puts into it.
 
“Awakens young people to the dignity of working with their hands.” —Dr. Paul Patane, Trustee school Art League.
 
7 Min. DVD (Black & White)

 

Rebuilding the South Bronx: The Story of SEBCO captures the remarkable twenty-five year transformation of the South Bronx from an International symbol of Urban Blight to an Internationally Renowned Model of Urban Renewal. Award-winning filmmaker Tony De Nonno interweaves powerful historical visuals of almost total devastation, with passionate and inspiring testimony of the people who lived, believed and came together with a common vision of unity and sacrifice to save their neighborhood and rebuild it for the future generations.
 
In the early 1960's the Hunts Point section of the Bronx was a thriving diverse community of 90,000 residents. Then suddenly - fires raging-- buildings crumbling- over 60,00 New York residents abandoned this almost mortally wounded community leaving it to street gangs, drug dealers, slum lords, and packs of wild dogs. A young priest Father Louis Gigante, heard the cries of the people and took to the streets with a mission. This modern day Nehemiah, (who saved Jerusalem the Bible) rallies the support of 13 community groups and a core of dedicated followers - behind on simple belief - rebuild Hunts Point and give our people a chance to live self-sufficiently in decent affordable housing. That vision, 25 years ago, gave birth to the South East Bronx Community Organization known as SEBCO- whose vast accomplishments include scores of new homes and an impressive array of renovated apartment buildings, libraries, parks, hospitals, and tree lined streets.
 
Today thanks to SEBCO's inspiring leadership, Hunts Point is a thriving community rebuilt, policed and administrated by its proud residents. It is a living testimony of neighbors working with neighbors to save and rebuild their dream community. —Richard Fliegal
 
14 Min. DVD