Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants

The Teri Rogers Filmmakers Grants are designed to support early-career directors in the creation of new short film, narrative genre (non-documentary) works. These grants are awarded through ArtsKC, an organization dedicated to fostering creativity and community impact through the arts in the Kansas City metropolitan area. ArtsKC aims to support ambitious projects that embody risk, personal and professional growth, and meaningful community engagement. The primary purpose of this grant is to assist filmmakers during the production or post-production phases of their projects. Funding can be allocated toward various elements such as shooting, securing rights, location fees, equipment, materials, travel, staffing, editing, transfers, scoring, sound mixing, CGI, titling, special effects, and color correction. However, the grant does not cover expenses related to marketing, creation of trailers, distribution costs, festival fees, or pre-production activities like research and professional development. The grant targets projects that are ready to proceed to production and discourages applications for projects in early planning stages or those unable to begin shooting within two years. Eligibility for the grant is specific. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and cannot be applying for student films. The project must be a new short film narrative (non-documentary), with the applicant serving as the director with full artistic and budgetary control and copyright ownership. Applicants must reside in one of five counties in the Kansas City metropolitan area—Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties in Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Applications from adjacent counties will be considered if the project takes place within the service area. Additionally, applicants should be in the early stage of their filmmaking career, and priority will be given to projects that feature Kansas City as a character or highlight the region, and those that emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion. Two grants of $10,000 each will be awarded this cycle. One grant is specifically reserved for a self-identifying woman and/or gender nonconforming filmmaker, while the second is open to all genders. In addition to monetary support, recipients will receive a membership to Film Independent, a subscription to Movie Maker Magazine, and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals. Applications must be submitted online through the ArtsKC Grant System, with a draft review option available for new applicants. Draft applications must be submitted by June 23, 2025, to allow staff sufficient time for review. The application process opened on April 16, 2025. A virtual information session will be held on June 18, 2025, at 12 PM via Zoom. The final application deadline is July 22, 2025, at 11:45 PM. Supported activities for funded projects should occur between August 1, 2025, and April 14, 2026. Grant decisions will be announced in September 2025 following committee meetings in August and September. Impact reports for awarded projects are due by April 15, 2026. The evaluation process will consider factors such as artistic excellence, career and community impact, project feasibility and budget, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and regional relevance. Grants are disbursed in two installments—80% upon signing the grant agreement and submitting a W-9 form, and the remaining 20% upon submission and approval of an impact report and an edited version of the film. Contact for the grant program is available through ArtsKC at grantmaking@artskc.org. Applicants are encouraged to submit draft applications for feedback and to ensure alignment with grant criteria and expectations.