CO-DIRECTED
WITH AISLING CHIN-YEE

For decades, the life of American Jazz musician Billy Tipton was framed as the story of an ambitious woman passing as a man in pursuit of a music career. In No Ordinary Man, Tipton’s story is re-imagined and performed by trans artists as they collectively paint a portrait of an unlikely hero. Together, the filmmakers join Tipton’s son Billy Jr. to reckon with a complicated and contested legacy.

No Ordinary Man was presented at Cannes Docs 2020 as part of the Canadian Showcase of Docs-in-Progress and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020.

Select Press and Reviews of No Ordinary Man

INDIEWIRE: Riveting Dive Into the Past Heralds the Future of Trans Cinema
CBC Q: No Ordinary Man brings to life the legacy of Billy Tipton
NOW MAGAZINE: No Ordinary Man Revisits the Life of trans icon Billy Tipton
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: No Ordinary Man: Film Review TIFF 2020
BREAKFAST TELEVISION: Chase Joynt and Marquise Vilson, TIFF Premiere
POV MAGAZINE: TIFF 2020: Review
ROGER EBERT: TIFF 2020: Review
DAILY XTRA: Trans jazz musician Billy Tipton finally gets the respect he deserves
THAT SHELF: TIFF Review, This Years Stand Out Movies

AWARDS
Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature – Seattle Transgender Film Festival. 2021.

Best Canadian Feature Film Award – Gimli Film Festival. 2021.

Portrait Documentary Award – Cleveland International Film Festival. 2021.

Best Canadian Film – Reelout Film Festival. 2021. 

Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature – Mardi Gras Film Festival. 2021.

Audience Award – South Western International Film Festival. 2020. 

TIFF Canada’s Top Ten – Toronto International Film Festival. 2020.

Best Canadian Feature – Inside Out Film and Video Festival. 2020. 

New Visions Award  – RIDM: Montreal Documentary Film Festival. 2020.