Martin Scorsese was born in 1942 in New York City, and was raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, which later provided the inspiration for several of his films. Scorsese earned a BS degree in film communications in 1964, followed by an MA in the same field in 1966 at New York University’s School of Film.In 2001 Scorsese released Il Mio Viaggio in Italia, an epic documentary that affectionately chronicles his love for Italian Cinema. His long-cherished project, Gangs of New York, was released in 2002, earning numerous critical honors including a Golden Globe Award for Best Director. The Aviator was released in December of 2004 and earned five Academy Awards in addition to the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for Best Picture. Scorsese is the founder and chair.