The Daddying Film Fest Can Be Your Comfort Place and It Won't Cost You A Thing
- Allan Shedlin
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
4th Annual D3F Begins Monday, April 7th
By Scott Beller
Daddying Editor and D3F Director of Communications
The other night, I got a call from a good friend who I hadn’t connected with in a while. We commiserated over the college admissions process, multiple school applications, costs, and the pressure our kids felt to get into what some might call a “name brand” university. His son and daughter have already emerged from that hell and settled into their college careers.
My oldest just recently accepted her offer from Syracuse University (so proud of her – go, Orange!). Though it wasn't her first choice, she loved the campus and curriculum right away and the school was her favorite of several we toured last summer. I'm confident she'll soon be satisfied with her choice, recognize her achievement, and won't feel like it was some kind of "consolation" prize.
When in the eye of the admissions storm, my friend and I both just wanted our kids to end up in the right place. To find and be accepted into schools where they felt comfortable – like they “belonged” and could earn a degree in something that fulfills them while making a positive impact. Any school, whether it was their first choice or not. Maybe a hard thing for kids to hear while in the middle of the application pressure and admissions madness and afraid they may have to “settle” for something less than their perceived "best."
After we talked about our kids finding a place to belong, positive impacts, and soaring college tuition since we were in college, the conversation turned to the Daddying Film Festival, which kicks off this Monday, April 7, on Eventive (I forget which one of us brought it up). I told my friend that we're still working to achieve the visibility we think D3F deserves with general, moviegoing audiences, we continue to build meaningful, personal connections with "insiders": filmmakers and many other organizations that share our vision.
Our “Little Festival that Could,” now in its 4th year, may not yet be Sundance, but we continue to expand and reach filmmakers of all backgrounds from around the world who understand and celebrate the importance of having or being an involved Dad or dad figure. Since 2022, D3F has attracted submissions from 28 countries. That always amazes me. While we’re still finding our way and growing our attendance, it's been clear from the beginning that the Festival’s themes strongly resonate with everyone they reach. And there are people everywhere who want and need to tell their daddying stories, both the joyful and the painful. These are important stories that might not otherwise find the audience they deserve and possibly even change someone else's life in the process.
The D3F is, at least in part, a result of this blog. When we met over 20 years ago, Allan and I knew we had our own stories to tell. Finally, in 2020, we started Daddying to share Allan’s perspectives, encouragement, and guidance for lifelong daddying. But we also wanted to open up the blog as an outlet for anyone with a desire to express what having – or not having – a nurturing Dad meant to them. For better or worse. The Daddying Film Festival was, to us, a natural (albeit more logistically difficult) next step up to building larger, worldwide platform. And here we are, ready for round four...already looking ahead to 2026!
A side benefit to our ongoing D3F outreach has been the number of filmmakers who have embraced the opportunity to also provide guest posts for the blog, including Angela Patton (Sundance Award-winning documentary, Daughters) in 2024, Adam Fried (D3F 2025 Official Selection, Everything’s Kosher), and next week’s guest writer and award-winning filmmaker Jen Senko (D3F 2025 Official Selection, The Brainwashing of My Dad).
We’ve also had non-filmmaking guest writers who allowed me to talk them into later submitting their own D3F film, like recent guest Tyler Pawlak, whose short, that’s ok. with you., will screen during next week's virtual D3F along with 30+ other short and feature films.
As my friend and I discussed our frustrations with many things going on in the world and our own corners of it, I kept coming back to the solace the Daddying Film Festival has to offer. Starting this Monday, whether it’s just one festival attendee, one family, or thousands, D3F is putting something positive out there for people to easily access, consume, and feel joyful about with their family or inspired to make a change or to just have a moment of catharsis...
D3F 2025 starts this Monday and runs through Saturday, April 12, on Eventive. I hope you’ll join us for one, some, or all our heartfelt daddying stories, on-demand, vote for your favorites, and maybe enjoy a healthy dose of solace while you're at it.
Oh, and unlike college, D3F admission is guaranteed and absolutely FREE. Lights. Camera. Daddy on.
STARTS THIS MONDAY, APRIL 7
Find your solace with a family movie night and enjoy unlimited, on-demand viewing of 30+ short and feature films by students, Dads, and indie filmmakers from around the world!
Scott Beller is the proud, imperfect crew dad of two mighty girl rowers, imperfect husband of a rock-star mom/regatta chaperone, truth teller, former soccer coach, part-time driving instructor, photobomber, purveyor of banned books, Editor of the Daddying blog, and Director of Communications for DCG and D3F. He's a seasoned writer and PR agency veteran with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes reach audiences and tell their stories. Prior to launching his own creative communications consultancy in 2003, he led PR teams with some of the world’s most respected agencies, including Fleishman-Hillard and The Weber Group. As a consultant, he’s helped launch two other parenting advocacy nonprofits with DCG founder Allan Shedlin. His first book, Beggars or Angels, appears in the gift guide above and was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer, with whom he will again collaborate on a book in 2025. He was formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" and Head Writer/Editor for the Raising Nerd blog, which supported parents in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and creative problem solvers. He earned his BA in Communications from VA Tech so many years ago. Follow him on Instagram and BlueSky!
