The 5th Annual Daddying Film Fest Offers 71 Reasons to Celebrate Importance of Involved Dads in 2026
- Allan Shedlin
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Scott Beller
Daddying Editor and Daddying Film Festival Director of Communications
We're baa-aaaaack! And, honestly, with so much negative energy (and policy) engulfing our world, it's not a moment too soon.
The 5th Annual virtual Daddying Film Festival kicked off today on Eventive. A little light to help subdue the gathering darkness and to reveal – to remind us – just how closely connected we all are and need one another.
This year, our D3F staff has curated 71 short and feature films from students, Dads, Granddads, Moms, and other indie filmmakers around the world to help celebrate the importance of having or being a positively involved Dad or dad figure. And together with a gifted group of student judges and judges from a variety of professions, we narrowed our field to an amazing group of finalists.
As in years past, our D3F Atticus Award winners will be chosen in each finalist category with your help. Yeah, just like in Dancing with the Stars! Online voting is now open and closes at 11:59 pm EST next Thursday, January 15. Please vote!
Student finalists have already earned $250 each. Student winners will add another $250 and an Atticus Award statuette, which symbolizes 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. The Roy R. Neuberger Prize-winner for Best Dad-created film earns $500.
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This year, D3F created an Audience Choice Award to honor the film/video that earns the most overall audience votes during the Festival. This year's event will also feature six special Atticus Awards selected by the D3F judging panel and staff. They are:
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D3F Men Caring Award sponsored by Equimundo, for best film celebrating the many faces of daddying, including men who play nurturing, fatherly roles and make a positive impact in the lives of children and youth
D3F Judges' Prize - Best Documentary Feature
D3F Judges' Prize - Best Documentary Short
D3F "Returning Dads" Award – Best film by/about Dads remaining connected or re-integrating with kids and family, including deployed, incarcerated, and estranged Dads
D3F Filmmaker Impact Award – Recognizing a D3F Circle of Friends member who has provided exceptional support and guidance to youth and/or indie filmmakers/filmmaking; and
Best Film In-Progress – Best Dad/dad figure-related film still in developmental stages of production.
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Atticus Award winners will be announced on Monday, January 19. You can get your FREE D3F 2026 passes and see complete descriptions of all our 2026 Official Selections shown in the preview video above by visiting the D3F Eventive homepage.
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LIVE Daddying Film Forum Coming Soon to DC!
A selection of 2026 Atticus Award-winning and finalist films, past and present, will screen at the 4th Annual Daddying Film Forum, January 30-31, at American University in Washington, DC. The live Forum brings children/youth together with their Dads/dad figures, families, and mental health experts to examine and discuss thoughts, feelings, and insights in response to the D3F films they've watched. FREE passes to the live Forum are also available on the Eventive homepage.
So, why not take a break from your newsfeed, gather with some people you care about, and head over to Eventive for a few short films, music videos, and features that celebrate what it means to have or be an involved Dad. What it means to love and be loved.
To be human.
Daddy on. It's free.
Scott Beller is the proud, imperfect crew Dad of two teen, mighty girls, imperfect partner of their rock-star mom/regatta chaperone, a truth teller, purveyor of banned books, former youth soccer and basketball championship coach, retired part-time driving instructor, late-night filmgoer, Editor of the Daddying blog, and Director of Communications for DCG and the Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F). He's a seasoned writer and PR agency veteran with more than 35 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes and individuals 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 The Weber Group and Fleishman-Hillard. As a consultant, he’s helped launch two other parenting advocacy nonprofits with DCG founder Allan Shedlin, REEL Fathers and Dads Unlimited. His first book, Beggars or Angels, was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer. He is formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" and Head Writer/Editor for the Raising Nerd blog, which supports 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. You can follow him and his frequently salty language on Instagram and BlueSky.
