Baylor Professor's Film "Endings" Wins Best Screenplay Award, Receives Two Nominations

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"Endings," a film written and directed by Chris Hansen, associate professor and director of the film and digital media program at Baylor University, won Best Screenplay at the Trail Dance Film Festival in Duncan, Okla., held Friday, Jan. 28, to Sunday, Jan. 30.

The film also received two nominations for Best Feature Drama and Best Actor/Actress in a Feature.

The film, which is Hansen's third, premiered at Seattle's True Independent Film Festival in June 2010. It is about three strangers who meet on the day they are all facing their deaths and end up going on a life-changing journey together.

"I'm really thrilled to win an award for the writing of 'Endings,'" Hansen said. "I always felt like its strength was its innovative approach to telling these stories, and winning an award for the script confirms that."

In 2010, Hansen won Best Director for the film at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival and Best Dramatic Feature at the Southern Winds Film Festival in Shawnee, Okla.

The film's next screening is at the ReelHeART International Film Festival in Toronto, which will be held June 20 to 25.

Hansen has made two other films: a documentary, "Clean Freak," and a mock documentary, "The Proper Care and Feeding of an American Messiah." The latter was screened at 20 festivals and took home several awards.

Hansen is in pre-production on his next feature.

"We'll be shooting it in June," Hansen said. "It's about two people on the brink of having an affair, and the decision they make and how it impacts them."

by Katy McDowall, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805