Digital Harvest Media

In the post–Roe v. Wade United States, scientists are on the cusp of a watershed moment in birth control, the introduction of new, viable male contraceptives. As we watch brave individuals fight to make medical history, Big Pharma’s reluctance to invest in these new products remains a maddening obstacle to the groundbreaking prospect of changing family planning and gender politics forever.

Welcome to a different kind of drag race! As NYC emerges from the chaos of 2020, Marti Cummings (they/them), an audacious and big-hearted drag queen, goes all out in a historic bid to become a City Councilperson. It’s one of the most hotly contested Council races in years, and Marti’s strongest competitor is Shaun Abreu, a tenants’ lawyer with deep roots in the district’s Latinx community. As these first-timers race to do the most good for their Upper Manhattan neighbors, they offer very different visions for Democratic politics – one in a suit and tie, the other in combat boots and floral print. As this immersive documentary reveals, Marti’s passion inspires queer activists and allies to change the political system. Their campaign becomes a community of its own, especially for Marti’s non-binary peers who have never before seen themselves represented.

In BORN FREE, filmmaker Paula James Martinez travels across the US to understand what makes it the most dangerous and most expensive nation in the developed world to give birth in. From heartbreaking personal stories to harrowing facts and the words of experts both in the medical and legal fields, BORN FREE shines a light on the true cost of giving birth in the US.