2023 Tensie Awards

Every Spring semester, students can enter their projects in the Tensies Awards, which is the KU Film & Media Studies version of the Oscars. Winners receive Tensie trophies in various categories such as Best Director, Best Drama, Best Cinematography, and more.

Best Animation Project/Best Music Video

Skinny Love's Rage

A portrait of the expectations and realities, beauties and pains of love.



Director - Toni Hopkins

Editor - Toni Hopkins

Screenwriter - Toni Hopkins

Cinematographer - Toni Hopkins

Sound - Toni Hopkins

Visual Effects - Toni Hopkins



Produced for FMS 374 Animation, Instructor David Mai, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Animation, Best Music Video

Best Comedy

Last Call at the Green Olive Café (work in progress)

After a customer's mysterious death, it's up to a kitchen crew to discover the culprit.



Director - Joe DeMarchi

Editor - Joe DeMarchi

Screenwriter - Joe DeMarchi

Cinematographer - Joe DeMarchi

Sound - Casey Watson, Joe DeMarchi

Visual Effects - Joe DeMarchi



Produced for FMS 498 Honors Seminar, Instructor Bob Hurst, Spring 2023



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Comedy

Best Director

I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! (work in progress)

During a 21st bday party, two female friends attempt to clarify their relationship, but a kiss complicates it.

Director - Allison Uhlenhop

Editor - Carter Wilch

Screenwriter - Allison Uhlenhop

Cinematographer - Carter Wilch

Sound - Sophia Dominguez

Produced for FMS 585 Capstone, Instructor Hispano Durón, Spring 2023



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Director

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Drama, Best Screenplay

Best Documentary

America's Trumpet

Son of Rufus Harley, America Patton, on his Jazz work to help restore Quindaro.



Main Director - Brandon Luck

Co-Director - Backer Hamada

Editor - Backer Hamada

Cinematographer - Brandon Luck, Aidan Thomason

Sound - Backer Hamada, Brandon Luck

Visual Effects - Backer Hamada



Produced for FMS 303 Undergraduate Production Seminar, Instructor Bob Hurst, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Documentary

Best Documentary

Money In Shoes

Bruce Barlow is a leathersmith based in Lawrence for over 30 years.



Director - Cash Erikson

Editor - Cash Erikson

Cinematographer - Cash Erikson

Sound - Zahra Ghazii, Jamison Sattler



Produced for FMS 275 Basic Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Documentary

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography 

Best Drama

The Urge

A boy steals a Super 8 camera box and finds documentation of a man turning into a vampire.

Director - Evan Bridges

Editor - Evan Bridges

Screenwriter - Evan Bridges

Cinematographer - Joe Euston

Sound - Evan Bridges (Design & Editing) & Carter Trout (Onsite)

Visual Effects - Evan Bridges



Produced for FMS 375 Intermediate Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Spring 2023



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Drama

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects

Best of Show/Best Experimental Project

Victoria

Victoria prepares for a date, but will her obsessiveness fail her when things go south?



Director - Audrey Merckling

Editor - Toni Hopkins

Screenwriter - Toni Hopkins, Audrey Merckling 

Cinematographer - Allison Ruschill

Sound - Hannah Davis



Produced for FMS 275 Basic Video Production, Instructor Bob Hurst, Spring 2023



2023 Tensie Winner: Best of Show, Best Experimental

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Cinematography, Best Director

Best Screenplay

Bedside Manner

A young man and woman share a moment of vulnerability as they confront the turmoil of their lives.



Director - Emma Steenhard

Editor - Allison Ruschill

Screenwriter - Emma Steenhard

Cinematographer - Allison Ruschill 

Sound - Ellis Conover, Noah Hammrick



Produced for KU Screenwriters, Instructor Jon Niccum, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Screenplay

Best Sound

The Red Trail

A hunter is haunted by the spirit of the man he left for dead.

Director - Tanner Ashenfelter

Editor - Tanner Ashenfelter

Screenwriter - Tanner Ashenfelter

Cinematographer - Sierra Ashenfelter

Sound - Tanner Ashenfelter, Cash Erikson

Visual Effects - Tanner Ashenfelter

Produced for FMS 375 Intermediate Video Production, Instructor Matt Jacobson, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Sound

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Editing

Best Visual Effects

Lasagna

Lasagna is a recipe video detailing how to make your very own 3 layer lasagna.

Director - Joe DeMarchi

Assistant Director - Allison Uhlenhop

Editor - Adler Moss

Screenwriter - Joe DeMarchi

Cinematographer - Joe DeMarchi

Sound - Adler Moss, Casey Watson

Visual Effects - Adler Moss



Produced for FMS 498 Honors Seminar, Instructor David Mai, Fall 2022



2023 Tensie Winner: Best Visual Effects

2023 Tensie Nominee: Best Comedy, Best Director, Best Drama, Best Editing,  Best Experimental, Best Sound

Bonus Info

The Tensie awards are named for the late Hortense “Tensie” Casady Oldfather, a celebrated local philanthropist whose many contributions to KU and the community include Oldfather Studios, the former home of KU Film & Media Studies.