Ithaca College

Death by Doorknob! Students in the Roy H. Park School of Communications took on the challenge of producing a film in which a character dies from a doorknob. This year’s Golden Doorknob Film Screening and Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in Park Hall Auditorium.

Why a doorknob? Ithaca College professor emeritus of cinema and photography Gustav "Skip" Landen (1924 -2009) started the Golden Doorknob competition in 1970 and continued it until his retirement in 1991. Back in those days the films were silent, black and white, and all of the Park School's film students had the assignment: make a very short film that presents the most imaginative way to kill someone with a doorknob.

Some of our most successful alumni have created their own “doorknob” films over the years including Bill Carraro ’82, producer of films such as Wolfman, Adjustment Bureau, and The Golden Compass. Carraro’s generosity funded this year’s competition. Other notable alumni who make a doorknob film include: Bob Iger ’73, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Corporation, and Dan Heffner ’78, executive producer of the Saw franchise. Carraro and Heffner also served on the judging committee for this year’s contest.

The contest was revived in 2009, when Park School students were asked to produce a narrative film up to five minutes in length. To view last year’s winners and selections from old Golden Doorknob films, visit: goldendoorknobaward.com

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should  contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance at 607-274-3909  (voice), 607-274-1767 (TDD), or eoc@ithaca.edu as much in advance  of the event as possible.