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The Italian Cultural and Community Center in association with the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance and Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, are pleased to present the Russo Brothers National Italian American Foundation Film Forum Award-winning Italian American Baseball Family documentary on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7 pm. Former Team Italy hurler and Cincinnati Reds pitcher A.J. Morris with join producer/director Roberto Angotti along with David Fanucchi (Author of Miracle on Grass: How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA baseball history), SportsRadio 610 host Shaun Bijani and other prominent panelists for a discussion immediately following the movie screening.

Roberto Angotti is a cultural historian, writer, film director, curator, and radio DJ who blends his love of baseball, Italian American arts and culture, and music into multi-media creations. He is an official Team Italy media representative for Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) and reports firsthand from international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and other tournaments. The proud Italian American was first inspired to write about baseball in Italy and the USA, arts and culture, and music through his blog: www.mlbforlife.com.

In 2013, Angotti curated the Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball in San Diego, California. This exhibit paid homage to Italian American baseball players and Team Italy players and coaches from the World Baseball Classic through artwork from renowned artists of Italian descent. The Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball exhibition opened with art and baseball memorabilia honoring such big-league players as Mike Piazza, Jason Grilli, Frank Catalanotto, Chris Denorfia, Nick Punto, Drew Butera, Anthony Rizzo, Chris Colabello, and Alex Liddi.

A graduate of the prestigious Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California with a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies, Angotti began his filmmaking career with documentaries on The English Beat and UB40. As a radio deejay on KNAC in Long Beach and KROQ in Los Angeles, he launched the career of Grammy nominee Pato Banton in America. Angotti enlisted the services of Pato Banton on his latest film, Introducing Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza, to produce a musical odyssey documentary on the iconic career of the National Baseball Hall of Famer and the new leader of the Italian national baseball program. The film makes its world premiere followed by a live concert performance by Pato Banton at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club on Sunday, April 24, 2022 in celebration of Festa della Liberazione. Limited tickets are available by clicking HERE.

Angotti recently served as international sister city ambassador between Fullerton, California and Tollo (Abruzzo), Italy in honor of long-time Orange County, California resident Tommy Lasorda and the birth place of his parents in Italy. Italian American Baseball Family was featured at the Tommy Lasorda Day celebration in Fullerton on September 22, 2021. In addition, the film (with Italian subtitles) will screened at the reciprocal Tollo sister city celebration in 2022.

Tickets for the upcoming Houston event featuring Italian American Baseball Family and the star-studded panel discussion at the Italian Cultural and Community Center on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 are available by clicking HERE.