ArtsKC Announces 2025-2026 Recipients of The Teri Rogers Film Grants for Filmmakers and Screenwriting 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ArtsKC, in partnership with the Kansas City Film Office, announces the 2025-2026 Recipients of the Teri Rogers Film Grants for Filmmakers and Screenwriters.

Kansas City, MO – ArtsKC, in partnership with the Kansas City Film Office, announces the talented recipients of the Teri Rogers Film Grants. These grants were created in honor of the late Teri Rogers, a woman who dedicated her life to uplifting women creatives in Kansas City.

“We are thrilled to support these talented filmmakers and screenwriters through the Teri Rogers Film Grants,” said Dana Knapp, CEO of ArtsKC. “Investing in diverse and creative voices not only enriches the Kansas City arts community but also serves as a testament to Teri Rogers’s legacy of uplifting women and fostering a thriving, inclusive environment for artists.”

The Teri Rogers Film Grants are divided into two categories: the Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants and the Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award.

The Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants offer two $10,000 grants, each including membership to Film Independent, a subscription to Movie Maker Magazine, and mentorship opportunities with professionals in the field. These grants are specifically designed for early-career directors creating new film, video, and digital production work in the short narrative genre (non-documentary). The purpose of these grants is to support ambitious projects that involve risk, growth, and change for the filmmaker, while also making a positive impact on the community. This funding is intended to support either the production (filming) or post-production process. One grant is awarded to a self-identifying woman and/or gender-nonconforming filmmaker, and the other grant is open to all genders.

In addition to the Filmmakers Grants, the Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award provides one $1,000 grant for a full feature or pilot script, further promoting and encouraging the development of diverse and compelling stories.

This year’s Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants and Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award recipients represent the immense creative potential of filmmakers in Kansas City and the surrounding region. We are proud to announce the following talented individuals who were chosen for their exceptional storytelling abilities, creativity, and potential to create meaningful impact through their work. We are honored to contribute to the growth and success of these talented filmmakers through this grant program.

Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants Grantees

Taylor Gilbert’s short, “God’s Plains,” follows a closeted teen runaway as they escape a sexually coercive encounter when an openly queer man in rural Kansas offers him an unexpected way home. 

Filmmakers Barry Wilson and Jamie Addison of Wilson Art and Video received a grant for their short film, “We Need to Talk.” This film delves into the story of a middle-aged Black Woman who hires an escort to get a form of intimacy she can’t get at home from her husband. However, the escort arrives and provides a service she’s not expecting. 

The Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award Grantee

Jeffrey Field’s script, “Waiting Games,” is about a charismatic liar who peddles bogus stories to strangers in hospital waiting rooms and tries to help a grieving young mother cope with the loss of her twin toddlers. 

Finalists for the Screenwriting Award include: Rick Lucas for the script “Targets” and John Ingle for the script “The Lamb.”

The recipients of the Teri Rogers Film Grants were selected through a rigorous process involving a panel of industry experts and ArtsKC board members.

This year’s grant review panel for the Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants included Committee Chair (ArtsKC Board Member): Julia Robinson, Chief Client Officer, Trozzolo, and Committee Advisor Rachel Kephart, Kansas City Film Commissioner. Supported by committee members:

 

For the Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award the committee included the following:

Committee Chair (ArtsKC Board Member): Julie Robinson, Chief Client Officer, Trozzolo, and Committee Advisor: Rachel Kephart, Kansas City Film Commissioner

Committee members:

 

ArtsKC aims to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive film community by investing in emerging talent. For more information about the Teri Rogers Film Grants, visit artskc.org.