DON'T BE PERFECT, BE PRESENT

TitleDON'T BE PERFECT, BE PRESENT
BrandSUN LOLLY
Product/ServiceSUN LOLLY
Category B01. Consumer Goods
Entrant TWENTY Copenhagen, DENMARK
Idea Creation TWENTY Copenhagen, DENMARK
Production BLONDE MEDIA APS Copenhagen, DENMARK
Credits
Name Company Position
Farah Dib Twenty Creative Director
Thomas Bjerg Twenty Client Lead
Lea Brisell Twenty Art Director
Farah Dib Twenty Copywriter
Anders Bundgaard Blonde Inc Director
August Rein Twenty Producer
Amanda Rosenkrantz Blonde Inc Producer
Tiyam Pour Khabbaz Blonde Inc Editor
Anna Bukh Jakobsen Anna Olivia Music Artist
Andreas Seebach Andreas Seebach Song Writer
Annette Riis Carstensen Blonde Inc Set Designer
Sebastian Bonde Twenty Coordinator
Mariam Latif Cameo Colorgrading

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

The film tells the heartwarming story of a father who does everything he can to make his daughter smile, regardless of how it makes him look to the rest of the world. We follow him through failed birthday cake attempts, TikTok dances, attic teddy tea parties and unicorn outfits in the street – his focus always on the only stamp of approval that matters – that of his kid. As she grows up, we're forced to examine the age-old fear of rejection every parent dreads, and come full circle at the end where our dad, now grandfather, sees his grown daughter adopt the very same silly moves he once did for her. The film is accompanied by a track, written and produced specifically for the film – Fool For You – a love song to parenthood, encapsulating the bitter sweet emotions that define us from the moment we become parents.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Six out of ten parents feel under pressure to be 'perfect', and the pressure in one of Scandinavia's seemingly most egalitarian countries is mounting. Because as admirable as Scandinavian homes might be on the covers of lifestyle magazines and in the media, real life as a Danish parent look a lot less like the glossy Scandinavian, design homes we idealise through culture. In a society that makes family life a priority, with generous paternal leave and focus on work/life balance, perforative parenthood – through social networks and online – is no less a source of stress. The elaborate sourdough cupcakes and perfectly decorated birthday cakes at the after school meetings taste of inequality, and it's in that context, we sought to portray a different side to parenthood. One that is a lot of thankless work, dedication and bitter sweet emotions – all in the name of unconditional love.