Documentaries from Alexandra Pelosi and Tania Cypriano have both scored distribution. The former, “American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself,” premieres October 23 on Showtime. The latter, “Born to Be,” hits virtual and physical theaters November 18, and will later be released on KinoNow.com and VOD.
In “American Selfie,” Pelosi chronicles her cross-country travels during 2020, “one of the most chaotic and transformative years in American history,” as Variety puts it. From the COVID-19 crisis, to the presidential election, to the racial reckoning spurred by the death of George Floyd, the film unpacks “the present, polarized state of the union.”
“Pelosi’s journey begins taking the temperature of America in a massively consequential election year, yet as unthinkable perils engulf the land, she bravely captures the rising tensions among warring factions that eventually spill over and erupt into protests in the streets,” “American Selfie’s” official logline reads.
Sheila Nevins produced “American Selfie” for MTV Documentary Films.
“The purpose of this film was to take the temperature of how people feel about America today — to take a selfie of how America looks in 2020,” Pelosi stated. “It’s an artifact of this moment in time and I’m immensely grateful to Sheila Nevins, MTV Documentary Films, and Showtime for bringing this film to audiences at such an urgent time.”
Pelosi has previously directed and produced several titles for HBO Documentary Films, of which Nevins used to be prez, such as “Outside the Bubble: On the Road with Alexandra Pelosi,” “The Words That Built America,” and “Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?” Both Pelosi and Nevins received Emmy nominations for “Journeys with George,” Pelosi’s 2003 doc delving into George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.
A press release announced that the North American rights to “Born to Be” have been acquired by Kino Lorber. The film, which world premiered at New York Film Festival last year, centers on Dr. Jess Ting, a plastic surgeon who treats trans and non-binary folks. He works at the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, “where, for the first time ever, transgender and non-binary people have access to quality transition-related health and surgical care.”
“‘Born to Be’ gives voice to those who refuse to conform to gender norms and stereotypes. The film addresses the nuances and complexities of gender, exploring key issues around the human right to define gender for oneself,” the source details. “Through the transitions of Dr. Ting’s patients, we witness the joys and torments that come with this brand-new territory — even as we see the limitations of his groundbreaking surgeries, and his commitment to growing this new field being tested.”
“Transgender and gender non-binary people’s issues are becoming more accepted in mainstream society, but we still have a long way to go in order to assure a positive future for the next generation,” Cypriano told Women and Hollywood in an interview. “Health care should be part of the larger conversation. Medical education and transgender care are very far behind, and there is a huge lack of research on transgender health.” She added, “In this current administration, where health care is so fragile, we need to remind ourselves that our fight is everybody’s, and as a society we are stronger when we fight for everyone – because health care is a human right.”
“Odo Ya! Vida com Aids” and “Grandma Has a Video Camera” are among Cypriano’s other projects.
