Donor Unknown
A 21st century tale of identity and genetic inheritance, it tells the story of a sperm donor and the children who want to meet him.
Donor Unknown is a new feature documentary directed by Jerry Rothwell and produced by Al Morrow & Hilary Durman.
For the first time in history a generation of children born through sperm donor conception are old enough to search for their biological fathers. For some it will prove to be a fruitless journey but the offspring of Donor 150 have a father who is willing and ready to be found.
JoEllen always knew 'my family wasn't like other families'. She grew up with two mothers and a burning curiosity about her biological father. All she knows about him is the donor profile, Number 150, which inspired her mothers to choose his sperm.
Through an internet registry, JoEllen meets one of her half-sisters, and when the New York Times picks up the story, more half-siblings emerge across America. Then a discarded copy of that article falls into the hands of Jeffrey, who lives with four dogs and a pigeon in a broken-down RV in a Venice Beach car park. Two decades earlier he earned his rent by supplying a Los Angeles sperm bank three times a week, as Donor 150.
Told with great honesty and humour, the inevitable meeting of biological father with some of his children raises puzzling questions about our definitions and understanding of parenthood, and the strange power of the genetic imperative.
Director: Jerry Rothwell 1 x 77 mins
A Met Film/Redbird production for Arte GEIE and More 4 with VPRO, supported by Cinereach, Sundance Institute and Gucci Tribecca.
With the support of the Wellcome Trust we are developing a programme of outreach work around the film.
Audience Feedback from a Screening of Donor Unknown