Film Festival Presents 'Daddy Don't Go,' by Emily Abt

From the Rahway International Film Festival:

The Rahway International Film Festival is returning to the UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts in Rahway, NJ on Friday, October 21, 2016 through Sunday, October 23, 2016.

One of the festival’s highlighted features is the New Jersey premiere of “Daddy Don’t Go” by director
Emily Abt on October 22nd at 5:30pm . The film follows four disadvantaged fathers in New York City as
they struggle to beat the odds and defy the deadbeat dad stereotype.

About the Film

Nick Schager, VARIETY

“In her clear-sighted portrait, Abt maturely and poignantly captures the reality of (her subjects)...A depiction of not only paternal devotion and sacrifice, but also the difficulty of breaking cycles of personal and parental neglect and trauma, this stirring film derives much of its power from its non-judgmental, warts-and-all perspective on its subjects…This nuanced and heartrending work should prove extremely attractive to prominent cable outlets.”

John DeFore, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“An effective response to media conversations that too often make the epidemic of absent fathers seem like a simple case of individual choice, Emily Abt's Daddy Don't Go follows four young New Yorkers who very much want to be there for their children. Adding the kind of human perspective that is essential in statistics-based policy debates about, for example, America's incarceration rate, the affecting doc will be welcome on TV after its fest run. Bottom line: This Sympathetic doc offers real-world insight into absent-father epidemic.”

Joshua Brunsting, CRITERION

“This new film from director Emily Abt is arguably one of the year’s most touching documentaries. Abt’s film
is non-judgemental, instead it offers up four singular stories with a great deal of respect and tenderness
given to each respective narrative. It’s an emotional piece of work, but it’s one that had to be made and now
needs to be seen.”

Elle Lenonsis, INDIEWIRE

"'Daddy Don't Go’, the latest from Emily Abt, is garnering attention not only because of its subject matter, but
also because of the way it was filmed; Abt followed fathers for over two years in order to delve into the
issues that low-income fathers face. A story of perseverance, it is a film that shows viewers how men can
still be present fathers despite having limited means and facing certain obstacles.”

About the Director

Selected as one of Variety Magazine's 'Top 10 Directors to Watch', Emily Abt is a critically acclaimed
filmmaker dedicated to creating fiction and documentary projects with social issue themes. She has
produced and directed documentaries for PBS, OWN, MTV, Showtime, Starz and the Sundance Channel.
Her first narrative feature "Toe to Toe" (which she wrote and directed) premiered in the Dramatic
Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was lauded by New York Times critic A.O. Scott.

For More Information about Rahway International Film Festival

The Fourth Annual Rahway International Film Festival will take place Friday, October 21st, 2016 through
Sunday, October 23rd, 2016 at the Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts in Rahway, NJ.

For the full lineup, more information, and synopses and trailers for each film, please visit here. Connect with Rahway International Film Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for regular updates.

Image via Rahway International Film Festival