D3F Judging Process

D3F Official Selections are chosen each year by Festival staff and passed along to student and adult preliminary jurors around the U.S. to help select which films/videos move on to our expert judging panel to be narrowed down to D3F finalists. Jurors have been trained in evaluating films by KIDS FIRST! and DADvocacy Consulting Group staff. Student jurors range from third-graders through college undergraduates (the same grade levels represented in student film/videos they evaluate).

 

In addition to considering how well submissions relate to one of D3F's current-year themes/prompts (letter to my father/child, most joyful thing I ever did/wish I could do/have done with my father/child, if I could make one wish come true for my father/child, my daddy wish, dads remaining connected or re-integrating with kids and family, and/or celebrating men caring/other faces of daddying), the criteria jurors use to evaluate each film reflect D3F's mission to:

 

• Shine a spotlight on the importance of dads in their presence and in their absence.

• Provide opportunities for kids and fathers alike to reflect upon and express feelings about what daddying qualities are most important to them; what kind of dad a father wants to be, and what kind of dad a kid wants and needs.

• Provide opportunities for emotional authenticity, creativity, and originality.

• Portray a variety of family dynamics in order to explore and encourage constructive relationships.

• Demonstrate film- and/or video-making skills and production values.

 

Up to FIVE finalists are selected by judges and D3F staff for each of the following festival voting categories (not including Judges' Prizes):

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1. 3rd through 5th grade (elementary)

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. Best Animated Film

8. Best Music Video

9. D3F Judges' Prize for Best Documentary Feature (selected by D3F Judges and Staff)

10. D3F Judges' Prize for Best Documentary Short (selected by D3F Judges and Staff)

11. Roy R. Neuberger Prize for Best Dad-created Film; and

12. Best Dad-Figure Film, aka The D3F Men Caring Award for best film celebrating 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.

13. NEW for 2026: D3F "Returning Dads" Award – Best Film by/about dads remaining connected or re-integrating with kids and family, including deployed and incarcerated dads; and

14. NEW for 2026: D3F Audience Choice Award – Film/video earning the most votes during the virtual D3F on Eventive.

 

Voting to help determine the Atticus Award, Neuberger Prize, and Men Caring Award winners (except Judges' Prizes) is open to the public/D3F attendees and conducted online during the virtual festival week. Awards are announced and presented to winners at the end of the virtual festival.

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As D3F continues to expand, we're always looking to add more student and adult preliminary jurors! If you'd like to learn more about becoming a D3F juror and the training process, we'd love to hear from you! Please CONTACT US and include "D3F juror inquiry" in your email subject line.