Quinnipiac Film Professors earn Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short

Press release

Quinnipiac University film professors earn Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short at prestigious Slamdance Film Festival

HAMDEN, Conn. – March 12, 2026 – Two Quinnipiac University film professors have earned the top documentary short award at the Slamdance Film Festival for their documentary short, “Panther Pat,” bringing national recognition to the university’s film program.

Ashley Brandon, associate professor of film, television and media arts, and Dennis Höhne, assistant professor of film, television and media arts, collaborated on the documentary short, which received the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short — the festival’s highest honor in the category — at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival, held Feb. 19-25 in Los Angeles. The film premiered at the Directors Guild of America Theater during the festival.

“Panther Pat” tells the story of Pat Palinkas, the first woman to play professional football, highlighting her groundbreaking achievement and lasting impact on the sport.

“The jury at Slamdance praised ‘Panther Pat’ for being highly inventive, using archival and stop-motion animation to great effect, and we were shocked that a story this compelling had flown under the radar until now,’” said Brandon.

“We began working on the project in 2023, and Slamdance was an awesome premiere for the film. We have more soon-to-be-announced festivals and screenings coming up that we're very excited about,” she added. "We can't thank Pat Palinkas and the Palinkas family enough for their collaboration and trust in allowing us to share Pat's gender-barrier-breaking story with audiences.”

Höhne served as cinematographer and producer on the project while Brandon directed the film. Together, they brought Palinkas’ story to life through a creative approach that blends archival footage with stop-motion animation.

“Working with Pat Palinkas and her family was a wonderful experience,” Höhne said. “From the beginning, it was clear that Pat’s story carried historical, but also a deep emotional significance, not only for her family but for a much wider audience.

“As a filmmaker, being able to help share that story, one that deserves to be known by far more people, was profoundly meaningful,” he added. “Seeing the film resonate with audiences at the Slamdance Film Festival and receiving the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short is an honor that belongs just as much to Pat and her family as it does to our team.”

Founded in 1995, the Slamdance Film Festival showcases emerging filmmakers and independent storytelling. The recognition highlights the creative work of Quinnipiac faculty and underscores the growing national profile of the university’s film, television and media arts program.