Civic Imagination Spotlight: Evelyn Gregory

Evelyn R. Gregory is a Cinematography and Video Production educator based in Louisville, KY. She earned her undergraduate film degree from the historic Alabama A&M University and holds both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Science while residing and teaching in Kentucky. She describes herself as “just a kid from Cleveland with a passion for storytelling.”

Evelyn Gregory.

Evelyn is a dynamic director, screenwriter, and film production educator. As the Director of the Black Film Institute at Simmons College of Kentucky, she creates compelling documentaries that illuminate the college’s rich history and its pivotal role in civil rights and Black advancement in Kentucky. Simultaneously, she nurtures the next generation of diverse voices in cinema. Her work beyond Simmons College includes collaborations with PBS American Portrait, state education departments, and numerous organizations focused on telling diverse stories that connect generations through multiple media platforms.

Evelyn is also the founder of AGV Films Studio, a company she launched after relocating to Kentucky. AGV was born from a deep frustration with how mainstream media consistently overlooks stories from diverse communities. And when those stories are told, they are often filtered through lenses that lack lived experience—resulting in narratives that feel inauthentic or reinforce stereotypes.

The entertainment industry’s gatekeeping—from financing to distribution—has systematically excluded creators from marginalized backgrounds. Without access to generational wealth or industry connections, many talented storytellers face nearly insurmountable barriers. Only 6% of recognized directors are women of color.

Evelyn’s mission goes beyond representation; it’s about transforming how stories are told. She’s committed to creating platforms for forgotten narratives that bridge generations and build empathy. Through her work, she seeks to depict the full spectrum of the Black experience—joy, resilience, history, and everyday life—not just trauma.

By establishing AGV as a Black, female-owned production company, Evelyn is not just producing content—she’s challenging entrenched systems, creating pathways for underrepresented creators, and ensuring that America’s full, diverse story is finally told on screen.

AGV Films Studio is dedicated to authentic representation and the empowerment of underrepresented filmmakers—a mission aligned with the growing demand for diversity in media. With a commitment to inclusivity and innovation, AGV aims to captivate audiences seeking fresh, untold perspectives in cinema.

Evelyn’s dedication to screenwriting and storytelling has led her to passion projects such as Kentucky Nations, a dramedy series inspired by her time as a high school teacher. Kentucky Nations unveils the untold stories of high school students from migrant families in Kentucky, challenging perceptions and celebrating diversity in America’s heartland.

In 2023, Evelyn was selected for the Civic Imagination Incubator, serving on Cohort 1. She collaborated with five other creatives over eight months on projects designed to improve civic imagination and world-building for social change in Kentucky. Evelyn describes the experience as “very impactful to her own storytelling and an amazing opportunity to work with creatives across the state.”

Another of Evelyn’s passion projects is I Forgot to Tell You About…The Story of the Cleveland Buckeyes. Growing up in Cleveland and being a lifelong fan of baseball, basketball, and football, Evelyn was destined to uncover and share this story. The documentary—directed by Evelyn—chronicles the rise of the Cleveland Buckeyes, from their formation in 1942 to their triumphant Negro League World Series victory in 1945. The film honors the team's legacy, featuring star players like Sam Jethroe, who dominated the 1945 season and earned MVP honors. Fittingly, the team’s final stop was in Louisville, Kentucky.

Poster for I Forgot to Tell You About….The Story of the Cleveland Buckeyes.

The documentary has been selected for multiple film festivals, including the Cleveland International Film Festival, The XL Fest, The Greater Urban Cleveland Film Festival, and the Chagrin Documentary Festival.

This blog post is part of an ongoing collaboration with the Civic Imagination Incubator, hosted by AccelerateKY in partnership with the University of Southern California Civic Imagination Project. In this series, members of the CI Incubator share their work combining worldbuilding, storytelling, and the civic imagination to develop impactful story worlds and media projects that engage participatory practices.