DAD GENES

International Premiere: Thessaloniki Documentary Festival 2026 / Open Horizons

Dad Genes captures a profound life transition: as Aaron Long loses his aging mother – previously his only close family – he simultaneously gains an entirely new, unconventional family born from decades-old sperm donations. What begins as a DNA test revelation becomes an unprecedented experiment in instant fatherhood, complete with a surprising romance with the mother of one of his donor children, worldwide media attention, and an unforeseen journey into viral celebrity.

Through Aaron's story, the film explores how modern technology enables new connections between people and how families are being redefined in unexpected ways. This entertaining, emotionally rich documentary offers a fresh perspective on 21st-century parenthood, the nature vs. nurture debate, and what happens when private lives become public spectacle. Dad Genes will spark conversations about atypical families, the role of technology in contemporary life, and the unexpected ways we find belonging.

A FILM BY Craig Downing | USA | 2026 | 62’ / Sales: tbc