THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT: AN AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY

Mikaela Shwer premiered her second independent documentary this December. THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT follows the journey of 3 survivors of the Troubled Teen industry.

Filmed over the course of 9 years, TKANA features the personal journey and advocacy work of Liz Ianelli (also known as Survivor 993) — culminating in her efforts that led to an federal investigation and indictment of an alleged abuser, with a court case coming up in 2025.

What does it mean to be a survivor? Generations of children have been left with this question in the wake of abuse suffered at the hands of the Troubled Teen Industry, an unregulated network of for-profit institutions claiming to fix wayward teenagers. Decades later, they are fighting back. Filmed over the course of nine years, “The Kids Are Not Alright” is an intimate portrait of trauma following three families’ journeys as they work to shed light on the devastating impacts of institutional abuse, pursue healing in the absence of justice, and fight to hold abusers accountable.

“The Kids Are Not Alright”, had its’ World Premiere at Dances with Films New York.