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3RD ANNUAL DADDYING FILM FESTIVAL & FORUM (D3F) ANNOUNCES 2024 CALL FOR ENTRIES

 

International Festival Celebrating Importance of Dad-Child Involvement Seeks Student,

Dad/Dad Figure & Indie Filmmaker Entries by March 4th

 

CHEVY CHASE, MD – January 2024 – 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 2024 call for entries to attract submissions from 1st-grade through undergraduate students, dads and dad figures, as well as indie filmmakers and studios worldwide. D3F’s virtual film festival takes place May 2-9, with winners announced May 11. The in-person Daddying Film Forum will be May 17 in Philadelphia, PA, at the Parkway Central Library. Submissions via D3F’s FilmFreeway page are due March 4 (early-bird deadline is February 5).

 

In 2023, D3F attracted entries from 21 countries. This year, D3F has again been working with several major family-friendly organizations and festivals, such as the All-American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF), Equimundo, Fathers Incorporated, 21st Century Dads, ParentCamp, National Healthy Start Association, Greater Philadelphia Film Office, KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, Strong Families Commission of PA, and the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), to bolster the number of student, dad, and indie filmmaker submissions.

 

WHO MAY SUBMIT?

Student filmmakers (1st grade – undergrad) and Dads/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 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 in the lives of children and youth. Examples include foster dads, adoptive dads, granddads, older siblings, coaches, mentors, inspirational philanthropists/patrons/celebrities, "big brothers," and other daddying role models.

 

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 each of the following D3F award categories:

 

  1. 1st through 5th grade (elementary school)

  2. 6th through 8th (middle school)

  3. 9th through 12th (high school)

  4. College/university (undergraduate)

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

  6. Best Short Film (indie filmmakers)

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

  8. NEW in 2024: Best Animated Film

  9. NEW in 2024: Best Music Video; and

  10. NEW in 2024: Best Dad-Figure Film, aka The D3F Men Caring Award sponsored by Equimundo

 

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 Caring Award winners each earn $500 to use toward an activity or project with their child(ren).

 

After review by student (4th grade - high school) and adult preliminary jurors from around the U.S., trained in evaluating films by KIDS FIRST! and D3F staff, award finalists are selected by a panel of VIP judges, who are experts in film production, the arts and entertainment industry, and academia. Atticus Award winners are selected by public, online vote during Festival week.

 

WHAT IS "DADDYING?"
The word “daddying,” coined by Allan Shedlin in 1994, is what happens when fatherhood and nurturing converge in service to a father’s child. It is a process requiring active involvement and a lifelong commitment to a child’s physical, emotional, social, intellectual, creative, and moral/spiritual well-being.

 

ABOUT D3F

The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F), is not your ordinary film fest. It is the world's first and only film festival 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, in 2024) to discuss themes from D3F-screened films and more directly improve the daddying experience for children and dads alike. For more information about the D3F and how to get involved as a participating filmmaker, potential juror, sponsor/Circle of Friends member, or other collaborator, people should contact D3F via its website at www.DaddyingFilmFest.com.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: To request an interview with D3F Founder Allan Shedlin, D3F Circle of Friends members, or past Atticus Award winners, contact D3F Director of Comms Scott Beller at scott [at] daddyingfilmfest [dot] com

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