International Festival Celebrating Importance of Involved Dads Seeks

Student, Dad/Dad Figure & Indie Filmmaker Short and Feature Submissions

 

November 18, 2025 – Chevy Chase, MD – The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F), the world’s first and only film fest focused exclusively on promoting the importance of positive dad/father figure involvement for kids and families, has announced its 2025 Call for Entries from 1st-grade through undergraduate students, Dads/Granddads/Dad figures, and indie filmmakers and studios worldwide. D3F’s virtual film festival will take place on Eventive from Monday, April 7 - Saturday, April 12, 2025. The in-person Daddying Film Forum will be Saturday, April 26, in Philadelphia, PA (site TBD). Early-bird deadline to submit via D3F’s FilmFreeway page is Friday, January 3. Regular deadline is Monday, March 3.

 

Since 2022, D3F has attracted entries from 26 countries. In 2024, the Festival screened 40+ short and feature films from beginners and award-winning directors, alike, including Angela Patton’s 2024 Sundance Audience Award recipient and Netflix hit, Daughters. To boost outreach in 2025, D3F is again collaborating with its Circle of Friends members that include major family-friendly organizations and festivals, such as Equimundo, Fathers Incorporated, Postpartum Support International, 21st Century Dads/Special Fathers Network, ParentCamp, Fathers and Families Coalition of America, National Healthy Start Association, Big Picture Alliance, Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement, All-American High School Film Festival, and the Art of Fatherhood podcast.

 

WHO MAY SUBMIT?

Student filmmakers (1st grade – undergrad) and Dads/Granddads/Dad figures may submit 1- to 10-minute films/videos (MP4 or MOV format), including music videos & comedies, that relate to one or more D3F/daddying themes:

 

1. A letter to my dad/father figure or my child(ren)

2. The most joyful/fun thing I ever did or wish I could do/have done with my dad/father figure or child(ren)

3. If I could make one wish come true for my dad/father figure or child(ren) it would be...

4. My Daddy dream: the most positive relationship I could imagine having with my dad/father figure or child(ren)

5. Men Caring: celebrate one of the many other faces of daddying, including men who play nurturing, fatherly roles and make a positive impact. Examples include foster dads, adoptive dads, granddads, uncles, teachers, mentors and “big brothers,” philanthropists/patrons, and other role models/celebrities.

6. NEW for 2025: Granddads & Grandkids – Lessons learned from each other.

 

Other non-student/indie filmmakers may also submit films of any length (short or feature). Students under 18 must have a parent's permission to register/submit.

 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR WINNERS?

Up to five finalists and one winner will be selected in the following D3F award categories:

 

1. 1st through 4th grade (elementary school)

2. 5th through 8th (middle school)

3. 9th through 12th (high school)

4. College/university (undergrad)

5. Best Feature Film (non-student indie filmmakers)

6. Best Short Film (indie filmmakers)

7. Roy R. Neuberger Award for Best Dad-created Film

8. NEW for 2025: Best Granddad-created Film

9. Best Animated Film

10. Best Music Video

11. D3F Judges' Prize for Best Documentary (selected by D3F Judges and Staff); and

12. Best Dad-Figure Film, aka The D3F Men's Caring Award for best film celebrating the many other faces of daddying, including men who play nurturing, fatherly roles that make a positive impact in children’s lives.

 

All student FINALISTS earn $250 for use toward an activity or project to enjoy with their dad/dad figure. Student WINNERS earn an additional $250, and a custom-made Atticus Award trophy. All D3F winners, including dads/dad figures and non-student, indie filmmakers, earn an “Atticus,” a statuette symbolizing Atticus Finch from the 1962 film based on Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird. Finch, an iconic single dad, represents several ideal daddying qualities. Roy R. Neuberger Prize and Men's Caring Award winners earn $500 to use toward an activity or project with their child(ren). Atticus winners are selected by public, online vote during Festival week.

 

ABOUT D3F

The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F), is not your ordinary film fest. It is the first and only film festival worldwide focused exclusively on promoting the importance of positive dad involvement for kids and families. D3F was created in 2022 by the DADvocacy Consulting Group’s Daddy Appleseed Fund (DAF) to offer children and youth a stage to express through film/video how they feel about the relationship they have or wish they had with their dads. D3F also encourages dads/dad figures to submit their own films for consideration and includes a live Daddying Film Forum (Philadelphia, PA, April 2025) to discuss themes from D3F-screened films and more directly improve the daddying experience for children and dads alike.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to request an interview with past Atticus Award winners or D3F Founder Allan Shedlin, contact D3F Director of Communications Scott Beller at: scott [at] daddyingfilmfest [dot] com