YOUNG ARTIST GRANT

Category: Fictional Literature

Winner: Polina Trofimova-Sylvestre, Oshawa, ON 

Creative Project: “Nonna’s Hidden Tales“ (Graphic Novel)

“Nonna’s Hidden Tales” is an illustrated children’s graphic novel for ages 4–6. The story follows a shy boy who spends a week at his Nonna’s home. Feeling out of place among the lively family gatherings, he discovers a dusty shelf of old fairy-tale books in the basement. As he reads the stories, his confidence grows, and by the end of the week he transforms into a bold young storyteller who captivates the entire family.

The project introduces Italian folklore through warm, whimsical illustrations and encourages children to explore their own surroundings with curiosity. It celebrates cultural heritage, the magic of reading, and the power of storytelling to inspire confidence, imagination, and a sense of belonging.

Category: Music

Winner: Julia D’Ascanio, Woodbridge, ON 

Creative Project: “The Roots Of The Fig Tree” (EP) 

“The Roots Of The Fig Tree” is the working title for the upcoming Extended Play (EP) by Canadian Italian vocalist, Julia D’Ascanio. Inspired by the unwavering love and support characteristic of Italian families, this EP will be dedicated to her parents, grandparents, and the generations who came before them. Julia’s goal is to honour the support she has always had from her family and create a musical body that gives back to them, and reflects the sacrifices, resilience, and triumphs of Italian immigrants. The narrative arc of the EP progresses from familial perspective to Julia’s personal, present-day voice, illustrating how the lives of past generations have made her creative journey possible.

Lyrically and thematically, this EP will use nature and landscape as a connecting thread between the physical environments of Italy and Canada, reflecting both the journey of migration and the emotional growth that comes with it. Nature serves a metaphor for generational change, familial growth, and cultural adaptation.

Category: Film

Winner: Massimo Russo, Toronto, ON 

Creative Project: “A440” (Short Film)

 
“A440” is a coming-of-age story of a young boy, his Nonno, and music. Dante is a rambunctious kid, always getting into trouble at school and at home. In stark contrast, his Nonno is a simple man: work hard, spend time with family, play the guitar. In an effort to bring structure and responsibility to Dante’s mischievous ways, Nonno teaches Dante about the discipline of music and craft of playing guitar. As Dante grows up and gets busier an inevitable distance grows between him and Nonno, making their bond through music even more important.

“A440” is a love letter to the Italian family, the care we have for each other, the responsibilities we shoulder in life, and the bonds we share through the beautiful art of music.

Category: Film

Honourable Mention: John Cucchiella, Toronto, ON 

Creative Project: “Palle Rosse’s Sanity Trinity” (Short Film)

 
Freshly graduated from a prestigious arts school, a negroni-loving filmmaker shares his own grievances with the film industry in the form of three short films he has written and directed. Mixing authorial interjections with satirical and absurdist stories, “Palle Rosse’s Sanity Trinity” explores the modern day with sharp criticism. Taking on art, politics, and popular culture, there is no topic too daunting for Palle Rosse to confront. Besides himself, of course.

The 2025 Young Artist Grant will support three projects by young artists with a $5,000.00 grant.

Submissions are accepted from artists who comply with the following requirements:

• Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• Are 18 to 30 years of age
• Are of Italian heritage OR are developing a creative project that is inspired by or reflects the essence of Italian culture.

The Young Artist Grant will support a specific original project that is in development in the following categories:

1. Fictional Literature (novel, novella, collection of short stories or poems, comics, graphic novel, theatre play)
   Ineligible projects: Non-fictional works, academic studies, anthologies featuring works by multiple authors, screenplays.
2. Music (album, musical score, movie soundtrack).
   Ineligible projects: Individual songs.
3. Film (8-15 minute short film, feature length film, music video, TV/streaming series or series pilot, screenplay)
   Ineligible projects: Documentary movies, film journalism, recording of a live performance.

PLEASE NOTE: Projects that have not been initiated or that are at the conceptual stage are not eligible. Candidates will need to share samples of their work in progress in their grant submission.

Artists that have already received support through the Young Artist Grant in the past are not eligible to receive the support again.

One artist can submit only one project, under one category. Each submission must be the work of the sole individual artist or by a team/band under the direct guidance of the artist who is submitting the project.

Each submission package must include:

• Completed online Application Form
• A valid photo ID (eg. driver’s license, passport, etc.)
• The applicant’s current resume
• An overview of the project (500-800 words)
• A detailed budget for the project, highlighting how the grant money will be spent
• A sample of the proposed project, such as
  • A 2–5 page excerpt for the literary entry
  • 1–2 song(s) from the music album
  • 2–3 minutes of the film or footage to be incorporated

The winning projects must be completed by December 31, 2026. Submission packages must be submitted via email to execs@villacharities.com no later than Friday, September 26, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT. Large files can be emailed through file-sharing sites (Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.)

Submissions that are received after the deadline will not be considered.

In your email subject line, please include ‘2025 Young Artist Grant’ and your First and Last Name.

Literature – Licia Canton 

Licia Canton has published short stories, nonfiction and poetry in English, French, Italian and dialect. She is the author of “The Pink House and Other Stories” (2018) and director of the documentary film “Creative Spaces: Queer and Italian Canadian” (2021). She is founding Editor-in-Chief of Accenti Magazine. For her work in culture, she received the Premio Italia nel Mondo (2018). She holds a Ph.D. from Université de Montréal and an M.A. from McGill University. 

Music – Cory Weeds

Cory Weeds is a leading Canadian jazz saxophonist, label owner, and impresario. He founded Vancouver’s Cellar Jazz Club, presenting major jazz artists while performing there himself with players like Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride.  He has released over 20 albums, appeared on many more, and earned strong acclaim. His Cellar Music Group has issued more than 400 recordings, with Weeds producing over 400, including a JUNO win for Metalwood and a 2023 Grammy for the “Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra”.  Weeds directs Frankie’s Jazz Club, presents concerts and festivals across British Columbia, and maintains deep ties to New York’s jazz scene through his annual “New York With Weeds” tours. An active educator and Executive Director of the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra Society, he was recently profiled in Journeys to the Bandstand as “….a rare figure whose talent and drive have significantly shaped the jazz community.”

Film – Carlo Coen, PhD 

Carlo Coen obtained a “Laurea” (Italian graduation) from the Sapienza University in Rome, with a thesis on Piero Gobetti and the cultural milieu of his times. He started working in the film business by rewriting dialogues for dubbed films. Soon after his graduation, Carlo was actively involved in the activities of a film club in Rome, by programming, working as a projectionist, and managing the life of the club. Starting from 1981, he has worked for the Italian Foreign Service and was posted abroad as the Director of Italian Cultural Institutes in New Delhi, Melbourne and Toronto. More recently (May 2013) he obtained a PhD in Italian Studies at the University of Toronto with a dissertation on Italian horror films from 1960 to 1980. Carlo delivered lectures and papers at Universities in Canada, the United States, Italy, India and Australia. He taught various courses on Italian Cinema and Italian Culture at the University of Toronto and at York University from 2006 to 2013, and at present he teaches the same subjects at York University. He has been the chief programmer for the Toronto Italian Film Festival, the Love and Lust Toronto Film Festival and has been the Coordinator and the Director of Programming for the Italian Contemporary Film Festival in Toronto since 2015. In 2003, he conducted an 8-segment series on contemporary Italian films on OMNI TV. His presentations on OMNI TV continued during his tenure as Director of Programming for the ICFF. He has several publications to his credit on the major Italian directors and on Indian Cinema. Notable works include articles on Piero Gobetti; on Rossellini and his historical films; on Rosi and Sciascia; on Fellini; on the representation of Naples in film; and on the influence of Neorealism on Indian Cinema. He has also co-edited the volume “Italian Experimental and Independent Cinema,” published by the Edinburgh University Press in 2019.