New Documentary 'Generation COVID' Examines Lasting Impact of Pandemic School Closures
The film follows children and families across five states over four years, documenting the ongoing effects of remote learning and mandates.
A new documentary, "Generation COVID," is set to explore the enduring consequences of pandemic-era school closures on children and families nationwide. The film, directed by Jennifer Sey and Andrew James, documents the experiences of families across California, New York, Oregon, Colorado, and Connecticut over more than four years, examining how the disruptions to education continue to affect young people.
Director Jennifer Sey stated that despite a general inclination for the country to move past the pandemic, many children are still grappling with its repercussions. "It just feels to me like everyone wants to move on, and there’s really been no reckoning about what we did to young people in particular, and I wanted to create a record of that so that it never happens again," Sey told Fox News Digital. She expressed hope that the documentary will serve as a visual account of the pandemic's impact on American children and advocate for different approaches in future public health crises.
Sey, a former executive who left her career after more than 30 years in San Francisco due to her outspoken opposition to the city's prolonged shutdown policies, began producing the documentary after departing from her job in 2022. Her commitment to advocating for children is influenced by her past experiences as a victim of abuse in elite gymnastics, which she detailed in her Emmy-winning production "Athlete A." "I feel like everyone's moved on, but the kids have not moved on," Sey remarked, emphasizing her drive to speak out for children when she perceives they are suffering.
The film also touches on what Sey describes as the "dehumanization" of children during the pandemic, noting the psychological toll of measures such as mask mandates on young children. "They were models, they were cogs in a wheel, and we lost all sense of the humanity of a child, the need to be around other kids for their own development," she said. "We inflicted fear."
In addition to chronicling the effects of school closures, "Generation COVID" is also expected to address censorship that Sey believes contributed to the continuation of these policies. The documentary is slated for release on Oct. 22, 2026, on SalemNOW.