The pioneering Dr. Jess Ting is the head surgeon at Mt. Sinai’s Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. Sensitive, soft-spoken and with a sly sense of humor, this former Julliard music student and single dad is at the compassionate heart of Born to Be, Tania Cypriano’s moving documentary about the transgender experience. We follow in Dr. Ting’s footsteps as he works with his patients: the troubled 21-year-old beauty Devin, en route to becoming Garnet; the former male model Mahogany, who’s reshaped her forehead the way she’s always wanted; and Jordan, delighted with the results of Dr. Ting’s revolutionary phalloplasty. Intimate without ever feeling intrusive, Born To Be is honest in its acknowledgement that surgery cannot solve all of the psychological issues confronting these patients. Like the remarkable Dr. Ting, this film takes a close, deeply humane look.

In competition for the Best Documentary Award

Director Tania Cypriano and subject Mahogany are expected to be in attendance on January 4, 6, and 7.