Emerging filmmaker Jada George makes her awarding winning (“BEST US SHORT” Award – Echelon Studios International Film Festival) directorial debut with Where The Children Go To Play, a chilling dystopian short film that forces audiences to question what it means to be “worthy” of survival in a system governed by cold, synthetic judgment.
Produced by Twin Pine Production with producing unit Alex Benton, Joshua Montrel, and AP Julian Thedford, the film is set in a sterile, near-future society and follows Sevyn Thomas and Solana Jackson, two young candidates subjected to a brutal psychological selection process. Inside fluorescent-lit chambers, they face synthetic proctors—hyper-intelligent androids designed to probe their deepest fears and beliefs. Memories are weaponized, morality is tested, and every answer draws the line between survival and sacrifice. By the end, Sevyn and Solana emerge transformed, branded with tattoos symbolizing their rare passage into humanity’s future.
“With Where The Children Go To Play, I wanted to explore the intersection of power, identity, and survival in a world where worth is determined by a cold, calculated system,” says director Jada George. “The story reflects my fascination with dystopian narratives that mirror our own social structures—whether in politics, education, or the workplace. My hope is that audiences see both the characters’ struggles and their own experiences reflected in the film.”
Blending striking visual storytelling with emotional intensity, George—originally from Annapolis, Maryland and now based in Los Angeles—draws from her background in photography and the visual arts to create a contained yet expansive cinematic world. Her creative use of sound design, spatial tension, and movement transforms the short film’s limited setting into a crucible of psychological depth.
At its core, Where The Children Go To Play is more than a futuristic parable; it is a timely reflection on how systems of power shape identity and reinforce inequality, even under the guise of fairness.
UPCOMING FILM FESTIVALS:
International Black Film Festival: Oct 3rd @2:15pm CST
Baltimore International Black Film Festival: Oct 3rd @4:30pm EST
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