DADDYING FILM FESTIVAL & FORUM (D3F)

Virtual Fest on Eventive - COMING January 2027
LIVE Forum at American University, Washington, DC - COMING January 2027

Our Mission

D3F’s mission is to provide students, Dads/Granddads, dad figures, and independent filmmakers a creative platform to promote the importance of father involvement – in its presence and absence. It enables filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience to explore their thoughts and feelings about the complex relationships between fathers and their children.

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D3F fulfills that mission by offering filmmakers a safe medium and unique opportunity to share stories that encourage reflection and intentionality, and to express feelings about the fundamental and often unexplored father-child relationship, including the daddying qualities that are most important to them, what kind of Dad a father wants to be, and what kind of Dad a kid wants and needs.

 

D3F enlists the help of youth and adult judges, filmmakers, educators, and clinicians alike. D3F also utilizes films to prompt post-screening discussions that may lead to desired behaviors/dad-child relationship changes.

 

D3F continues to evolve as parental and gender roles are reexamined and expanded. D3F is inclusive of all gender identities and family structures, and strives to promote holistic environments in which children, families, and communities may thrive.

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D3F Submissions

Students, Dads/Granddads, dad figures, and other indie filmmakers are encouraged to submit films/videos, including music videos and comedies, that relate to one of D3F's themes:

 

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

2. Most joyful/fun thing I ever did with my Dad/Granddad and/or child(ren)/grandchild(ren)

3. If I could make one wish come true for my Dad/Granddad and/or child(ren)/grandchild(ren), it would be...

4. My Daddy dream – the most positive relationship I could imagine having with my Dad/Granddad/child/grandchild

5. Men Caring – celebrating the many other faces of daddying, including men who play nurturing fatherly roles, inspire, and positively impact the lives of children and youth. Examples include foster Dads, adoptive Dads, Granddads, older siblings, coaches, mentors, inspirational philanthropists/celebrities, "big brothers," and other daddying role models.

6. NEW for 2026: "Returning Dads" – films by/about Dads remaining connected or re-integrating with kids and family, including deployed, incarcerated, and estranged Dads.

 

To set itself apart from other film festivals and improve the daddying experience for children and dads alike, D3F includes a stand-alone, “live” Daddying Film Forum that brings children/youth together with their Dads/families to examine thoughts, feelings, and insights in response to D3F-screened films and to express them through group discussion and other creative means.​​

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Make a tax-deductible donation to support D3F!

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D3F theme song (copyright 2023) created by Diana Lawrence:

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Dads are important to children, and children are important to Dads.

Families and communities are better off when fathers and children

are positively involved in each other's lives.

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