# Daddy Issues (film)

Daddy Issues is a 2018 American independent romantic drama film directed by Amara Cash about a 19-year-old queer "pixie" who becomes ensnared in a love triangle after falling for a sexually-fluid online crush. The film was screened at multiple film festivals and received many accolades.

## Plot

Nineteen year old Maya lives at home with her mother and step-father. She is a very unhappy artist who wants to go to art school in Florence, Italy. Simon is a drug addict doctor who has fantasy sex with Jasmine who dresses up as a little girl. Simon has a dinner with his father each year on his dead mother's birthday. She died 11 years ago.
Maya and Jasmine meet on-line and have a same-sex relationship. Maya moves in with Jasmine. Jasmine continues her heterosexual affair with Dr. Simon. The doctor has set up a child's bedroom in his garage and pays Jasmine $5,000 a month. Maya is almost hit by a driver who is Simon. It turns out that Simon is Maya's father that she has not seen in six years. Maya's mother has lied to her about her father not wanting contact with her and has been spending the child support. Simon and Maya rekindle a relationship.
One day Simon sees his daughter and Jasmine in a sexual embrace. He realizes that his lover is in an affair with his daughter. He ends his relationship with Jasmine and Jasmine in turn breaks up with Maya. When Simon offers to pay Maya to go to school in Italy, she figures out Jasmine was her father's lover. The triangle love affair is exposed.
Maya goes to art school in Florence and is successful in selling her art clothing. One day she sees a woman in Florence wearing her clothing line and the film ends with them being friends.

## Cast

* Madison Lawlor as Maya Mitchell
* Montana Manning as Jasmine Jones
* Andrew Pifko as Simon Craw
* Monte Markham as Gordon Craw
* Kamala Jones as Danielle Mitchell
* Seth Cassell as Jim Mitchell
* Brian Gilleece as Doug
* Jodi Carol Harrison as Bobbi Jones

## Screenings

Daddy Issues was screened at:
* Arizona Underground Film Festival (2018)
* Boston LGBT Film Festival (2018)
* Fort Myers Film Festival (2018)
* Inside Out Film and Video Festival (2018)
* Film Festival International in London and Nice (both 2018)
* MidWest WeirdFest (2018)
* Northern Virginia International Film Festival (2018)
* SOHO International Film Festival (2018)
* Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival (2018)

## Reception

The film was hailed as a "dark romance with a tender heart" at the 2018 Inside Out Film and Video Festival in Toronto, Canada, whose reviewers lauded Amara Cash for her "vision, style, and twisted sense of humour". Punch Drunk Critics also gave the film – which it described as an "exquisitely messed up [and] beautiful nightmare" – a positive review, awarding it 4 out of 5 stars for, among other things, its "fascinating and deeply disturbing script" and "visual style".

## Accolades

List of awards and nominations :
| Event/Body | Year | Award | Recipient | Result |
| Arizona Underground Film Festival | 2018 | Jury Award | Daddy Issues | Won |
| Fort Myers Film Festival | 2018 | Best Feature | Daddy Issues | Won |
| Film Festival International (London) | 2018 | Best Cinematography in a Feature Film | Nico Aguilar | Won |
| Film Festival International (London) | 2018 | Best Director | Amara Cash | Won |
| MidWest WeirdFest | 2018 | Best Director | Amara Cash | Won |
| Film Festival International (Nice) | 2018 | Best Original Screenplay of a Feature Film | Alex Bloom | Nominated |
| Film Festival International (Nice) | 2018 | Best Lead Actress | Madison Lawlor | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Feature Film | Daddy Issues | Won |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Acting Ensemble | Daddy Issues | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Director | Amara Cash | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Cinematography | Daddy Issues | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Editing | Daddy Issues | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Screenplay | Alex Bloom | Won |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Actress | Montana Manning | Won |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Supporting Actor | Andrew Pifko | Won |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Supporting Actress | Kamala Jones | Won |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best Score | Daddy Issues | Nominated |
| Northern Virginia International Film Festival | 2018 | Best LGBT Film | Daddy Issues | Nominated |