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Daddy

In a dystopian society where the state has the power to determine who can and cannot father children, four men attend a government-sanctioned retreat in the remote mountains of California. When they show up at the site, only to find no guide or instructions, they are left to their own devices and must prove to themselves—and each other—that they have what it takes to become fathers.

  • Neal Kelley
    Director
  • Jono Sherman
    Director
  • Neal Kelley
    Writer
  • Jono Sherman
    Writer
  • Sophia Kalin
    Producer
    The Guilty
  • Neal Kelley
    Producer
  • Jono Sherman
    Producer
  • Albee Zhang
    Producer
  • Britt Baron
    Key Cast
    "F.R.A.N.N."
    GLOW, The Thing About Harry
  • Neal Kelley
    Key Cast
    "Andrew"
  • Pomme Koch
    Key Cast
    "Mo"
    WeCrashed, Law & Order
  • Joseph Lopez
    Key Cast
    "Driver"
  • Yuriy Sardarov
    Key Cast
    "Sebastian"
    Chicago Fire, Argo, The Ides of March
  • Jono Sherman
    Key Cast
    "Jeremy"
  • Jacqueline Toboni
    Key Cast
    "Ally"
    Grimm, The L Word: Generation Q, Easy
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 38 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 14, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    350,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.67:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cinequest Virtual
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    March 2, 2023
    World Premiere
    Spotlight Event
  • Oxford Film Festival
    Oxford, MS
    United States
    March 4, 2023
    Southern Premiere
  • Cinequest
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    August 11, 2023
  • Ridgefield Independent Film Festival
    Ridgefield, CT
    United States
    May 20, 2023
    East Coast Premiere
    Best Narrative Feature, Best Ensemble, Best Screenplay
  • Dances With Films
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    June 23, 2023
    West Coast Premiere
Distribution Information
  • United Talent Agency (UTA)
    Sales Agent
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Neal Kelley, Jono Sherman

Neal received his BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan and has lectured at Pepperdine University as the Curtis McGraw Artist-in-Residence. He has directed several Off-Broadway productions, including the first revival of Jean Anouilh’s Becket in over 50 years. He is also a voiceover director in Los Angeles, most recently working on the Netflix show Babylon Berlin.

Jono has had a passion for film for as long as he can remember. Prior to co-creating Daddy, he discovered the importance and power of independent film as a member of the Telluride Film Festival Student Symposium. He’s called Los Angeles home since 2014 and has worked in post-production and as a freelance writer while continuing to hone his craft as a screenwriter, director and actor.

"Daddy" is their first feature film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Neal & Jono are a creative team from Ann Arbor, MI. In addition to writing scripts together for the past four years, they have also each helmed their own personal short films, made a COVID inspired web-series, and have been making music together since 2005. Guided by humor and a passion for writing, they craft stories about characters who exist on the thin edge of experience and observation, those who are dancing in the middle of the party and yet also standing at a cocked eyebrow’s distance, trying to figure out what is really going on.