The Golden Doorknob Awards will be returning during the 2026-27 academic year as an annual competition thanks to the generous contribution of Dan Heffner '78.
Ithaca College professor emeritus of cinema and photography Gustav "Skip" Landen started the Golden Doorknob competition in 1969 and continued it until his retirement in 1991. Back in those days the films were silent, black and white, and all film students had the same assignment: make a very short film that presents the most imaginative way to kill someone with a doorknob.
The concept has since been expanded so that the “Death by Doorknob” concept may go beyond murder, it may be the death of a relationship, an emotion (such as happiness), or a time in history –anything that comes to an end.
1st Place $1,000
2nd Place $750
3rd Place $500