‘Way of the Lamb’: Daniel Knight’s spiritual coming-of-age wins first Franzi Shorts competition

@franzi.films | franzifilms.com | FilmFreeway

Franzi Shorts, the Copenhagen-based short film initiative from Franzi Films in partnership with SimpleRent, has announced its first-ever winner: Way of the Lamb by UK screenwriter Daniel Knight.

The global program invites screenwriters to submit short film ideas three times a year, selecting one per round for full production funding, festival submissions, and distribution. Knight’s winning project will enter production in late 2025, directed by Vasco Alexandre, produced by Zoe Stiletano, and executive produced by Joao Martins and Frederik Heitmann.

Mystery meets innocence

Way of the Lamb follows Joseph, a ten-year-old boy who becomes convinced that his late grandfather has been reborn as a lamb. Loosely inspired by an experience from Knight’s own childhood, the film explores the fragile space between faith, loss, and imagination. “Its initial aim was to explore the growing disharmony between nature, spirituality, and modern life,” Knight explains. “Through a series of inferences, the young protagonist foregoes grief in favour of an astonishing spiritual awakening.”

The film will be an expression of spiritual optimism, centering on the purity of a child’s perspective as it clashes with the disillusionment of adults. Joseph’s curiosity and quiet faith stand in contrast to the cynicism and detachment surrounding him. While the story begins with grief, it evolves into a meditation on empathy and transcendence—a gentle reminder, as Knight puts it, that “innocence can still outshine despair.”

Visually, Way of the Lamb draws from the transcendental cinematic tradition, with restrained dialogue, natural light, and long takes that let silence carry emotional weight. Knight cites influences including Robert Bresson, Andrey Tarkovsky, Edward Yang, Terence Davies, and Joanna Hogg, noting, “I’m fascinated by the space between what’s seen and what’s felt. That’s where the real drama lives.”

Hidden depths unfold

Though the film depicts a family grappling with loss, Knight’s approach is neither bleak nor sentimental. “It’s a story about resilience and spiritual endurance,” he says. “Even in the smallest gestures of kindness, there’s the possibility of renewal.”

Before turning to screenwriting, Knight built a career in journalism and public relations, working first as a junior reporter before becoming a PR advisor. In 2023, he began a Masters in Screenwriting at the University of Manchester, pursuing a more creative path centered on nonlinear and experimental storytelling. His current work blends realism with the metaphysical, often using cinema as a bridge between ordinary life and the unseen.

Alongside the winner, Franzi Shorts also recognized a group of standout finalists, representing just 4% of total submissions:

Unveil the unseen

Buffy Baby – Riz Moritz, UK

Mud – Alberto Tejero Caballo, Spain

Rope – Eleanor Herzog, UK

Swimming Practice – Lucy Heathcote, Australia

Lady Nail Car – Emer Heatley, UK

Baggage – Evgeniia Kashapova & Oleg Lipin, France

They Are Here – Jamie McCormack, UK

Spritz – Catherine Kinkead, USA

My Dear Nightmare – Svitlana Topor, Poland

Unlock new perspectives

Industry inquiries can be sent to franzishorts@franzifilms.com.

Founded in 2024, Franzi Films produces live-action narrative projects and music videos from its Copenhagen base. SimpleRent, founded in 2017, is a production rental house serving Danish and international filmmakers.