Teri Rogers Film Grant awarded to three local filmmakers, paving the way for KC filming expansion

Both 2023 and 2024 Teri Rogers Film Grant recipients Eva Louise Hall, Jean-Jacques Corbier, Jerry Rapp, Mel Sangyi Zhao, Khitam Jabr, and Vy Nguyen stand together for a group photo. // Photo by Lane Rozin

On Nov. 14, the third annual Teri Rogers Film Fund Reception awarded three grant recipients: Eva Louise Hall, Mel Sangyi Zhao, and Jean-Jacques Corbier. Hosted at the Folly Theatre [300 W 12th St.], the event commemorated the work of dedicated Kansas City-based filmmakers. 

ArtsKC created the grant in 2021 to annually recognize young storytellers’ passion for filmmaking. Teri Rogers is the namesake of the grant, which was made to ensure her legacy would live on through uplifting female and gender-nonconforming creatives in KC. 

President and CEO of ArtsKC, Dana Knapp, began the ceremony by congratulating the awardee’s achievements. She also expressed gratitude in celebrating Rogers’ legacy, who worked as the KC Film Office adviser, former Chair of the KC Film Commission Board and board member of ArtsKC. Rogers was also on the Executive Board of the KC Streetcar Authority and founded Take Two Productions in 1998, according to an article by the KC Film Office. 

“We’re celebrating filmmakers—those really courageous, honest and profound artists that have that gift of storytelling,” says Knapp on stage. “Those that can convey such a truth and honesty that allows us to not only connect with their story, but also often connect with ourselves.”

The grant provides a prize of $10,000, along with a membership to Film Independent, a subscription to Movie Maker Magazine, and mentorship opportunities with professionals in the field, according to the ArtsKC website. 

Last year’s Teri Rogers Film Grant recipient Khitam Jabr gives a speech before her current film project Yerham is screened for the first time to the public. // Photo by Lane Rozin

The grant divides $21,000 among three local artists, along with a membership to Film Independent, a subscription to Movie Maker Magazine, and mentorship opportunities with professionals in the field, according to the ArtsKC website. Two filmmakers are awarded $10,000, while a local screenwriter receives $1,000.

KC Film Office Director Rachel Kephart spoke about the importance of the Teri Rogers film fund and its impact on former and current grant recipients. 

“The Teri Rogers film fund is not just about funding films,” says Kephart on stage. “It’s about investing in bold ideas, supporting risk-taking, and helping filmmakers at a crucial point in their careers. It’s about giving artists the tools to create work that has the potential to be seen far beyond Kansas City.” 

In 2023, Jerry Rapp was the first individual to receive the Teri Rogers Screenwriting Award. With this gift, he created Be Kind Films, a universe of short-form content dedicated to bringing joy, reflection, and insightful life lessons to viewers. 

Rapp shared how receiving last year’s award has impacted him before handing off the 2024 Teri Rogers Screenwriting award to writer, actor, and filmmaker Jean-Jacques Corbier. 

Corbier has previously directed films such as CATharsis and When I Sit Down. On stage, he shared how he has found community in film by collaborating with other creatives. 

“I found community, but not through the means society deems as high value, such as money, status, perceived coolness,” says Corbier on stage. “But instead, I found it through genuine human connections and people, through with people of all identities and backgrounds.”

Last year’s grant recipients Vy Nguyen and Khitam Jabr were also in attendance Thursday evening to congratulate the 2024 awardees, Eva Louise Hall and Mel Sangyi Zhao. 

2023 Teri Rogers Film Grant recipient Vy Nguyen awards the 2024 prize to Eva Louise Hall. // Photo by Lane Rozin

Nguyen screened her latest award-winning project From Me To You, a short film that focuses on the relationship between a mother and daughter as they begin to unravel the complexity of their cultural differences. Afterward, Vy Nguyen bestowed the 2024 award to Eva Louise Hall. 

“I want to touch more on how funding has helped me as a filmmaker, because I was able to access equipment, gear and locations that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” says Nguyen on stage. “This grant gave me a platform to really share with an audience that cares about this kind of work and stories.” 

Despite not being able to meet Rogers before her passing, Hall is grateful to Rogers’ legacy for giving her the opportunity to create her newest slow-motion project, Pluck. 

“It is a joy to experience and learn more about her and her impact,” says Hall on stage. “I am incredibly honored that my work will be helping further her legacy in Kansas City.”

Jabr’s current movie project is called Yerham, which tells the story of Jabr’s real life experiences alongside her family experiencing the grief and loss of her brother. She shared how challenging the project was after various scenes of the nearly completed film were screened. 

“It follows me coming back home to mourn with my family for the first time after my brother passed,” says Jabr on stage. “While it is technically a scripted film, it’s very much a recreation of events. It’s my real family. It’s real grief, and it’s pretty vulnerable.”

After the screening, Jabr proudly gave Zhao the 2024 award, who emphasized the ripple effect of film funding, from contributing to paying cast and crew to purchasing equipment. 

“Please know that when a filmmaker receives this grant, this money doesn’t just go to this one person. It goes to her team, her crew, her family,” says Zhao on stage. “The experience you’re able to have with your family creates an impact that ripples through.”

Rogers legacy continues to live on with the help of the grant, which provides funding that brings new projects by young filmmakers to life. Mary Sloss, Roger’s daughter-in-law, wrapped up the evening by sharing her joy in honoring the impact Roger has made to the lives of storytellers. 

“Although Teri’s physically not here with us, we miss her every single day,” says Sloss on stage. “She will never die, because we will never not say her name. Even when I die, her name will live on.”

2024 Teri Rogers Film Grant awardee Mel Sangyi Zhao gives a speech to show her gratitude for the award. // Photo by Lane Rozin