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Born to Be

Directed by Tania Cypriano

Release: 2019
Runtime: 92
Country: U.S.
Language: English
Director: Tania Cypriano
Born to Be follows the work of Dr. Jess Ting (he/him) at the groundbreaking Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. There, for the first time ever in New York City, transgender and gender non-binary people have access to quality gender-affirming care. With extraordinary access, this remarkable documentary offers an intimate look at how one doctor’s work impacts the lives of his patients as well as how his journey from renowned plastic surgeon to pioneering gender-affirming specialist has led to his own transformation.

Dr. Ting's patients are as diverse as the city itself. Cashmere (she/her), decades sober and with a zest for life, offers an invaluable queer history lesson as she looks back on the tumultuous existence she once led on the streets of New York. Jordan (they/them) is non-binary and, with their nurturing partner by their side, finally has the support they need to take the next step in their transition. The loquacious Garnet (she/her) moved to New York City to transition and has the full support of her family, but still struggles with depression. Shawn (he/him) signed up for a new type of gender-affirming surgery pioneered by Dr. Ting with the help of brave patients like him. And heart- and scene-stealer Mahogany (she/her) was once a successful male model, but sacrificed her career to begin life as the woman she is. Through their stories, their joys and hardships, the film addresses the nuances and complexities of gender, exploring key issues around the human right to define gender for oneself.

Reviews More Reviews

Critic's Pick!

– The New York Times

"A brave, revelatory, and beautifully realized film, it is easily one of the year’s best and most important documentaries."

– Godfrey Cheshire, RogerEbert.com

"Deeply moving and humane. Born to Be distinguishes itself with its sensitive, humane portrait of the dedicated Dr. Ting, his hard-working staff (some of whom are transgender themselves), and his diverse patients who yearn merely to live in a body that reflects their inner identity."

– Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

"Heartbreaking, uplifting... a must-see."

– Norman Gidney, Film Threat

"A lively and moving documentary about the first major American hospital center for transgender surgery shows us what the future will look like. Moving and fascinatingly forward-looking. What the Mount Sinai center represents is a paradigm shift, if not a revolution."

– Owen Gleiberman, Variety

"Intimate and highly compelling... poignant and finely tuned. Tania Cypriano treats her tireless subject with utmost sensitivity. With its cinematic eye, compelling subjects, and elegant awareness of the issues, Born to Be was conceived just in time."

– Jude Dry, Indiewire

"Enlightening. The film has an exuberantly infectious life to it… We’re watching history be made with a sympathetic and respectful eye to everything that entails."

– Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage

Gallery

Mahogany (she/her) and Dr. Jess Ting (he/him) in a scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
Jordan (they/them) and Dr. Jess Ting (he/him) in a scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
Leiomy Maldonado (she/her) in a scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
Garnet Rubio (she/her) in a scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
Dr. Jess Ting (he/him) in a scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
A scene from Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber
Director Tania Cypriano (she/her) on the set of Born to Be, courtesy Kino Lorber

Press & Exhibitors

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For all press requests, please contact us at [email protected].

Technical Info

  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Color: Color

Press & Promotion:

playdates

Venue City Date
a/perture cinema Winston Salem 1604293200November 2, 2020 - February 1, 2021
ACME Screening Room Lambertville 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Alexander Valley Film Society Cloverdale 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Amherst Cinema Amherst 1606798800December 1, 2020 - February 1, 2021
ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Bethlehem 1609390800December 31, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Athena Cinema Athens 1608094800December 16, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Athens Ciné Athens 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 9, 2021
Bozeman Film Society Bozeman 1606107600November 23, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Bryn Mawr Film Institute Bryn Mawr 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Cinema Arts Centre Huntington 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Cinema Lamont Oak Park 1605589200November 17, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Cinemapolis Ithaca 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
CineSpeak Philadelphia 1604466000November 4, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Cleveland Cinematheque Cleveland 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Clinton Street Theater Portland 1608526800December 21, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Coolidge Corner Theatre Brookline 1605589200November 17, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Coral Gables Art Cinema Coral Gables 1605070800November 11, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Corazon Cinema St Augustine 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Darkside Cinema Corvallis 1606107600November 23, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Denver Film / Sie FilmCenter Denver 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Dietrich Theater Tunkhannock 1608008400December 15, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Digital Gym Cinema San Diego 1605243600November 13, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Downing Film Center Newburgh 1605848400November 20, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Enzian Theatre Maitland 1605848400November 20, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Film Forum New York 1604984400November 10, 2020 - January 17, 2021
Film Streams Omaha 1606798800December 1, 2020 - February 1, 2021
FilmBar Phoenix 1605243600November 13, 2020 - January 8, 2021
FilmScene Iowa City 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Fine Arts Theatre Asheville 1605243600November 13, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Gateway Film Center Columbus 1604898000November 9, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Grail Moviehouse Asheville 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Grand Cinema Tacoma 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Guild Cinema Albuquerque 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Historic Howell Theater Howell 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre Hurleyville 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Images Cinema Williamstown 1606107600November 23, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Indie Memphis Memphis 1605589200November 17, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Jacob Burns Film Center Pleasantville 1604379600November 3, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Laemmle Theatres Los Angeles 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Minor Theater Arcata 1605848400November 20, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Northwest Film Forum Seattle 1607058000December 4, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Oxford Film Festival Oxford 1605070800November 11, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Palm Springs Cultural Center Palm Springs 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Park City Film Park City 1606280400November 25, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Philadelphia Film Society Philadelphia 1609822800January 5 - February 1, 2021
Pickford Film Center Bellingham 1606107600November 23, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Plaza Theatre Atlanta 1605070800November 11, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Railroad Square Cinema Waterville 1607662800December 11, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Rose Theatre Port Townsend 1605675600November 18, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Roxie Theater San Francisco 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Roxy Theater Missoula 1606280400November 25, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Salem Cinema Salem 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Salt Lake Film Society Salt Lake City 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
SNF Parkway Theatre Baltimore 1606885200December 2, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Strand Theatre Rockland 1605502800November 16, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Suns Cinema Washington 1605762000November 19, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Symphony Space New York 1612933200February 10 - March 1, 2021
Taos Center For The Arts Taos 1604293200November 2, 2020 - February 1, 2021
TCAN Cinema Natick 1606885200December 2, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Civic Theater Allentown 1607403600December 8, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Little Theatre Rochester 1605589200November 17, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Loft Cinema Tucson 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Nightlight Cinema Akron 1605848400November 20, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Screening Room Newburyport 1605589200November 17, 2020 - February 1, 2021
The Tull Family Theater Sewickley 1604984400November 10, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Tropic Cinema Key West 1609995600January 7 - February 1, 2021
United Theatre Westerly 1608008400December 15, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Waters Edge Cinema Provincetown 1606280400November 25, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Wellfleet Preservation Hall Wellfleet 1604030400October 30, 2020 - February 1, 2021
Zinema 2 Duluth 1605243600November 13, 2020 - February 1, 2021