NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — May 2026 — Counterfeit Kids, the directorial debut of screenwriter James Sclafani, will premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival on May 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The screening will take place at Rutgers University Voorhees Hall.
The film marks a significant transition for Sclafani as he expands from screenwriting into directing original material. He previously sold the screenplay King of Counterfeit to Bill Murray, and Counterfeit Kids reflects his continued focus on grounded, character-driven storytelling.
Set in 1980s Baltimore, Counterfeit Kids is a gritty coming-of-age crime drama that follows two teenagers navigating life inside a dysfunctional foster home. As pressure builds within their unstable environment, the pair turn to counterfeiting money as a means of survival, setting off a chain of events that quickly spirals out of control.
While Counterfeit Kids shares thematic elements with King of Counterfeit, the short film stands entirely on its own. It was developed as both a self-contained narrative and a proof of concept for a larger story world.
The film centers on Nic and Jude, two teenagers brought together in a troubled foster home run by manipulative and financially motivated adults. Jude, a gifted but overlooked artist, begins producing counterfeit money, while Nic uses her personality and charm to help circulate it. What begins as a small operation using fake bills in low-risk exchanges escalates when the adults in the household interfere, lacking the caution that kept the scheme under control.
As tensions rise, the story shifts from survival to consequence, forcing the characters to confront loyalty, identity, and the cost of escape.
Rather than relying on spectacle, Counterfeit Kids focuses on emotional realism, character-driven storytelling, and the harsh realities of its setting. The 1980s Baltimore backdrop adds a raw, authentic atmosphere that reinforces the film’s themes of ambition, desperation, and resilience.
The premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival marks an important milestone for Sclafani as he expands into directing and begins developing a slate of future film projects based on his original scripts.
Counterfeit Kids Screening Details
- Event: New Jersey International Film Festival
- Date: May 30, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Rutgers University Voorhees Hall
Tickets and event information:
https://www.newjerseystage.com/events/2026/05/30/middle-life-sundays-and-counterfeit-kids-in-person-at-7pm-at-nj-film-festival-in-new-brunswick-nj-on-2026-05-30/
Media Contact
James Aniello
Streetcore Pictures LLC
Email: counterfeitkidsproduction@fastmail.com
Phone: 917-930-1396
Columbia, Maryland, USA
