D3F FOUNDER ALLAN SHEDLIN NAMED “FATHER OF THE YEAR”
BY FATHERS AND FAMILIES COALITION OF AMERICA​​​
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CHEVY CHASE, MD – April 10, 2025 – The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) announced today that its Director and Founder Allan Shedlin has been named the Fathers and Families Coalition of America (FFCA) 2025 Honorable Stanley Seiderman Father of the Year. Shedlin accepted the award, in-person, at the 26th annual FFCA International Conference in Los Angeles, CA, as D3F's 4th annual virtual film festival, which began April 7, continued on Eventive.
Shedlin provided the FFCA conference keynote address and also presented special screenings of two D3F Official Selections: Canadian indie filmmaker Tristan Barrocks' D3F 2025 short film Atticus Award finalist, A Letter From the Fathers: Chapter II, and Julietta Beutler-Lam's D3F 2024 college undergrad student film Atticus Award winner, A Trace.
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Shedlin has devoted his life's work to improving the odds for children and families. He has three daughters, five grandchildren, and numerous "bonus" children and grandchildren. A trained educator, Allan has alternated between classroom service, school leadership, parenting coaching, policy development, and advising at the local, state, and national levels. Throughout his career, he’s written about education and involved parenting for major news outlets and trade publications, and given numerous TV, radio, and podcast interviews.
After eight years as an elementary school principal, Shedlin founded and headed the National Elementary School Center.
In 2008, he was the first male honored as a "Living Treasure" by Mothering Magazine and founded REEL Fathers. In 2010, he advised the Obama White House on fathering policy.​
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Allan and Congressman Jimmy Gomez at Father's Day and Working Families celebration, June 2023
In 2017, he founded the DADvocacy Consulting Group. In 2018, he launched the Daddy Wishes Fund and Daddy Appleseed Fund. In 2019, he co-created and co-facilitated the Armor Down/Daddy Up! and Mommy Up! programs for veterans and their children. He’s conducted daddying workshops with Native American pueblos, veterans’ groups, penitentiaries, Head Start centers, corporate boardrooms, and elementary schools.
In 2022, Allan founded the Daddying Film Festival, which kicked off its 4th annual virtual event this week on Eventive and runs through Saturday, April 12. D3F is the first and only film festival focused exclusively on promoting the importance of positive dad involvement for kids and families. The 2025 festival features 30+ films created by students, Dads/dad figures, and indie filmmakers from around the world. D3F now includes a stand-alone, live Daddying Film Forum to more directly improve the daddying experience for children and dads alike. This year's 3rd annual Forum will be held Saturday, April 26, on campus at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.
Allan earned his elementary and high school diplomas from NYC’s Ethical Culture Schools, BA at Colgate University, MA at Columbia University’s Teachers College, and ABD at Fordham University. But he considers his D-A-D and GRAND D-A-D the most important “degrees” of all.
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ABOUT FATHERS AND FAMILIES COALITION​
The Fathers and Families Coaltion’s team of dedicated faculty, volunteers, and leaders is committed to improving the lives of children and families through professional development, innovative programs, and meaningful partnerships. This year, FFCA delivered professional development and evidence-based, parent education programs to individuals across the United States and 11 other countries. FFCA offers an expanded array of programs to support professionals from diverse backgrounds through partnerships, including Spelman College’s Certification in Trauma & Resilience: Level One, a comprehensive 120-hour professional development program; the Nurturing Fathers Curriculum Facilitator’s Training, and Australia’s Win-Win Parenting Program. Together, these initiatives embody FFCA’s commitment to building bridges across cultures, supporting families, and empowering professionals to create a profound impact in their communities.
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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 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 dad filmmakers to submit their own films for consideration and includes a stand-alone, live Daddying Film Forum to more directly improve the daddying experience for children and dads alike. Since 2022, D3F has received submissions from filmmakers in 28 countries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION or to request an interview with D3F Founder Allan Shedlin, please contact: Scott Beller, D3F Director of Communications, scott [at] daddyingfilmfest [dot] com