Fatherhood: Mental Health & Alzheimer’s Short Film

Aim

Fatherhood is a deeply passionate short film exploring mental health, family, and the pressure to break the cycle of the past.

Logline: A hardworking father-to-be struggles to balance his responsibilities. However his relationship with an elderly customer sparks a bond he’s always been yearning for. 

Hello, we are Robin and Lauren De Vernon Ryding from Fulfilment Pictures Ltd.

Fatherhood is a project very close to both our hearts. Our relationships with our own fathers are strained or non-existent, and this has had a lasting impact on our lives. Through conversations with friends, we’ve realised how common this experience is.

These days, the term “broken family” is sadly more prevalent, and it can deeply affect our mental health, our sense of self, and even heighten the anxieties we feel when starting our own families — that fear of “what if I turn out just like him?”

“50% of men in the UK have suffered with poor mental health at one time or another.” – BUPA

“Only around 24% who’ve struggled with mental health say they would talk to their friends about their struggles, owing to the stigma surrounding it.” – BUPA

💭 About the Film

Fatherhood explores these themes through Lee, a man soon to become a father himself. His mental health is greatly impacted by the pressure to be better than his own father, who left him and his mother when he was very young.

Another important theme in Fatherhood, which is very close to our writer Lauren’s heart, is the portrayal of people in our communities living with dementia. Lauren’s work as a home carer has given her a deep understanding of how vulnerable and invisible those with dementia can often feel.

Through our casting process, we found that dementia has touched the lives of almost everyone involved in this project in one way or another.

“1 in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia in the UK.” – NHS

Our ageing population continues to rise, yet our ability to recognise and support those living with dementia is still limited. In Fatherhood, this is reflected through Marvin, a regular customer of Lee’s whose friendship gives Lee a sense of comfort and routine. Marvin’s story highlights how discreet dementia symptoms can be, and how easily those affected can feel like a burden in an impatient, fast-moving world.

🎥 Where We Are Now

We have now completed filming and are currently in post-production. This stage includes editing, sound design, colour grading, and final mastering — all crucial steps in making sure the finished film reaches its full potential.

We are still working to cover the remaining post-production costs (approximately £2,000), and we now need to raise £1,000 to help us complete the film and support its festival run.

🌍 Why We Need Your Help

Your support will help us:

• Finish post-production and deliver the best possible final cut.
• Submit the film to festivals across the UK and internationally.
• Cover promotion and distribution costs so the film can reach a wider audience.

This final £3,000 will ensure Fatherhood not only gets completed but also has the chance to be seen, discussed, and appreciated around the world.

Any additional funding will allow us to support those who have worked hard to make this film happen over the last two years. It has been a big part of our lives and we can not wait to show the results of the hard work everyone has put towards it. 

🤝 Join Our Fatherhood Family

By contributing, you’ll become part of the Fatherhood journey and help us share a story that reflects real human experiences — the struggles, fears, and resilience that unite families everywhere.

Every supporter will be credited and recognised as part of our Fatherhood family. Whether you can give a little or a lot, your support directly helps bring this heartfelt story to life and gives independent film a stronger voice.

Thank you for helping us finish Fatherhood and for believing in the power of storytelling to connect people everywhere.

This project successfully funded on 23rd April 2026