Fatherhood (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Fatherhood is a 22-minute drama about Lee, a devoted expectant father facing work-family pressure and uncertainty. A meaningful connection with a regular customer brings his absent fatherly bond into focus, giving the short film an intimate premise centered on responsibility, longing and self-doubt.

Fatherhood is a 2026 drama directed by Robin De Vernon Ryding and written by Lauren De Vernon Ryding. The 22-minute film follows Lee, a soon-to-be father trying to manage the demands of work while preparing for a major change in his personal life.

As Lee wrestles with self-doubt, an unexpected connection with a regular customer prompts him to confront the fatherly relationship he never had. The film’s compact runtime places its focus on one character’s emotional and family-related concerns.

Fatherhood movie details

Story without spoilers

James Dawoud plays Lee, a devoted soon-to-be father dealing with the challenge of balancing work and family responsibilities. Although he is preparing to become a parent, Lee is not free from uncertainty about whether he is ready to step into that role.

His routine changes when a surprising connection develops with a regular customer. That relationship awakens a longing connected to the fatherly bond Lee has never experienced, adding a personal dimension to his concerns about fatherhood and responsibility.

What to expect

As a drama with a 22-minute runtime, Fatherhood is positioned as a concise character-focused story rather than a broad ensemble production. Its premise centers on work-family balance, impending parenthood, self-doubt and the emotional weight of growing up without a fatherly bond.

The regular-customer relationship serves as the film’s key point of connection, while Lee’s preparation for fatherhood provides the central source of tension. The supplied premise supports expectations of an intimate, focused narrative without revealing how its circumstances develop.

Cast and creative team

James Dawoud leads the cast as Lee. Finlay McLean plays Marvin, Rosie Kim Grant appears as Lisa, Shing Moussa Chung plays Matthew, Alison Muir portrays Anita, and Lauren De Vernon Ryding plays Claire.

Robin De Vernon Ryding directs Fatherhood, with Lauren De Vernon Ryding credited as writer. Lauren De Vernon Ryding is also part of the cast as Claire.

• James Dawoud as Lee
• Finlay McLean as Marvin
• Rosie Kim Grant as Lisa
• Shing Moussa Chung as Matthew
• Alison Muir as Anita
• Lauren De Vernon Ryding as Claire

Release and production context

Fatherhood is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of October 3, 2026. Its status is listed as Released, and the film has a runtime of 22 minutes. It is classified as a drama and produced by Fulfilment Pictures. No country or spoken language is specified in the supplied information.

Production companies: Fulfilment Pictures

Reported production figures:
Budget $22

Movies Dock view

Fatherhood presents a contained story about an expectant father facing practical pressure and unresolved personal feelings. With Lee at the center, the film connects the responsibilities of becoming a parent with the absence of the bond he wanted himself, creating a focused premise for a short drama.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb