IT IS a uniquely 21st century story.
An international fertility expert from Sheffield has used his knowledge and experience to help produce an intriguing documentary about a sperm donor-conceived child's search for her biological father.
The Star's health reporter Sarah Dunn found out more about the film - being screened here this weekend as part of the city's acclaimed Doc/Fest.
The tale of one determined young woman - conceived using a sperm donor and raised by two mums in Pennsylvania - as she trawls the United States in search of her father, known to her only as Donor 150.
Along the way, 20-year-old JoEllen discovers no fewer than 12 half-siblings who are scattered across the States - the first one tracked down in the Big Apple, where the New York Times picks up her story.
The article also falls into the hands of Jeffrey Harrison, who is living alone with four dogs and a pigeon in a broken-down motorhome in a Venice Beach car park.
In the 1980s, Jeffrey supplemented his meagre income by becoming a sperm donor at California Cryobank - where his number was Donor 150.
The fascinating documentary, which airs at The Showroom cinema this Friday and Saturday, follows JoEllen and her siblings on their journey to find and meet Jeffrey.
And, while it is funny, moving and sensitive, Dr Allan Pacey says he hopes it will be more than just a film people turn up to watch and chat briefly about afterwards.
The senior lecturer in andrology at The University of Sheffield said he wanted the documentary to open up the debate around some of the issues the film raises - about children who want to trace their genetic roots and the implications that has for the donor, the child and their wider families.
Dr Pacey said: "I think it's a really important story because it highlights and shows off some of the things we are going to face in the UK at some point.
"People are really worried about how these introductions might pan out - will it be good or bad?
"The viewer probably thinks it's going to be car crash TV, but when you start to watch it you take a positive feeling from it.
It's not threatening, upsetting or even particularly challenging - it's emotive and warm."
Although Dr Pacey agreed straightaway to be involved with the project - having worked with director Jerry Rothwell and producer Hilary Durman on other successful projects previously - he admitted at first he had his reservations.
"We were very concerned about making sure everything was handled sensitively," he said.
"We wanted to make sure we didn't offend anyone - the parents of the donor-conceived children and the children themselves - and, of course, a big thing for me was making sure we didn't put off potential donors, since they are in such drastic short supply."
But his worries were eased after watching some "lovely" footage of the children with their parents - "they truly understood these youngsters' need to know about their origins", he said - and the positive way the meetings between the children and their father played out.
"If people enter the story of this documentary, they will see there is nothing to be frightened of," Dr Pacey said.
"It could have been an emotional mess, but it turned into something really touching and that has reassured me. Of course, we have to be realistic - some children will love their donor, others will not.
"But this film shows donor-conceived children to be incredibly respectful. They're not after money or grand gestures, they just want to find out the simple things - if they like cats or what their favourite colour is.
"And it's really interesting stuff, that again challenges our perceptions of nature versus nurture - how much is in our genes, and how much is down to how we're brought up?"
Dr Pacey, whose role as scientific consultant for the film saw him offer insight and advice on both factual information and artistic presentation, said he hoped this wouldn't be the only talking point it raised.
He and Jerry Rothwell are set to conduct a question and answers session at The Showroom this Friday after the film, and will also be taking it on tour around the country next year hosting a series of debates to run alongside the screenings.
Dr Pacey said: "I hope the film will become a talking point - starting a discussion about the origins of children when they are born in a unusual way.
"We want to use it as a vehicle to get people talking and open their eyes to what is inevitably going to happen in the UK. This film is giving us a heads-up on the issues we're going to face."
- Donor Unknown airs at The Showroom on Friday at 1pm, followed by the Q&A with Dr Pacey and Jerry. It's also being screened the following day at 12.30pm, followed by a Q&A session with Jerry.
For more on this story follow the link: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/On-fertile-ground-in-hunt.6608856.jp
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