For Filmmakers

Our beloved retired Professor Skip Landen began the tradition of students making short films (up to 5 minutes) about how one might meet their end with a doorknob. Now is your chance to continue the tradition.

For a look at past winning Doorknob Films: https://vimeo.com/channels/198388

We are also continuing the animation category of our famed competition: The Aniknob. The Aniknobs should also be short, up to two minutes is the ideal length. Here is an example: https://vimeo.com/107973584  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQWJnRV1Dr8

The Alumni Weekend celebration screening is sure to be a Knoberiffic event and we will be happy to welcome our student and alumni filmmakers to the gala screening in the Park Auditorium.

CASH AWARDS for the following: 

Best “Longknob” $1,000 Cash
Films from 2:01 to 5 minutes in length.

Best “Aniknob” $500 Cash
Animated films (any style) up to 2 minutes in length

Second Place Films $750 Cash
Can be any category of film

Third Place Film $500 Cash
Can be any category of film

Best “Froshknob” $500 Cash

“Knoberable” Mentions
Honorable mention films will receive gift certificates.

*This Froshknob prize is open to any Park student or team of students who have not yet enrolled in a Park production class higher than the 100 level. Please indicate your current or most recent production class completed on the entry form if you wish your entry to be considered for this prize. Your entry will automatically be entered in the overall competition as well, but will be judged only against other 100 level Park students for the $500 prize.

Golden Doorknob Rules:

1. Open to all Park School Students.
2. Films must be on the subject of how one might encounter death involving a doorknob. An expansive interpretation is encouraged — the fatal moment might be delivered by knob or door directly or indirectly and could also be an open door that tells of death in the future.  Let your imagination run wild!  The films are narrative (tell a story) and must have a beginning, middle and end but must not exceed 5 minutes in length plus credits. Credits may not exceed 20 seconds, so total length may not exceed 5:20. There is no minimum length.
3. May be live action or animation and may be shot on film, digital, cell phone, or made by digital media software programs.
4. The deadline for submitting films is October 16, 2023. Instructions for submission are on the entry form.
5. Films will be judged by a panel of faculty and industry members. A gala screening and awards ceremony will be held during Alumni Weekend of October 2023.
6. Cash Prizes will be awarded to winning films. Honorable mention films will receive gift certificates each. Judges reserve the right to withhold awarding of prizes in any category if they deem that minimum production standards are not met, or that there are less than three submissions in any category.
7. The Park School reserves the right to use films for promotional purposes, in perpetuity. Copyright of each film will belong the filmmakers. Each filmmaker must keep on file clearance forms for actors or copyrighted material appearing in the film.
8. Submit the entry form by Monday, October 16, 2023.