Krow's TRANSformation
Never comfortable with “her” body or given name, Kayanna knew since childhood he was meant to be a boy. Struggling deeply with his identity throughout his youth, he adopted a new name – Krow.
At 12-years-old, Krow began a career as a globe-trotting “female” fashion model. While living a glamourous lifestyle, he never felt fully comfortable, despite the attention and praise lavished on him for his good looks.
At school he was seen as a tomboy and cruelly bullied for the way he dressed. Krow found solace in Animé conventions and cosplay, where he found like-minded people who accepted him for who he truly was, giving him new found confidence.
At 18, Krow embarked on the journey towards physically becoming a man. The first step was cutting off his ponytail and then pausing his career as a fashion model in order to begin the process of transitioning.
In a series of honest and often heart-breaking interviews, we see how Krow’s decision impacted those closest to him. His mother, Lisa, initially struggles with the revelation that her child wanted to transition. But, as she learns what it means for him, she begins to whole-heartedly embrace her son’s new life. Then there is Krow’s friend Ashton and his mentor Kas who share their own experiences of growing up in bodies they never felt comfortable in, as well as their personal journeys towards transition.
We witness the continual challenges faced by Krow, including hormone therapies and numerous invasive surgical procedures, such as breast removal and a hysterectomy.
As Krow grows in confidence in his new body, he returns to his career in the fashion industry, taking his first job as a male model on the runway at Paris Fashion Week for Louis Vuitton.
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Gina Hole LazarowichDirector
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Gina Hole LazarowichProducer
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Tony LazarowichProducer
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Denise ParkinsenProducer
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Philip WebbProducer
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Brad DanksProducer
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Janice StrangwardProducer
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KrowKey Cast
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Kas BakerKey Cast
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Emily SealKey Cast
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Ashton SciacalloKey Cast
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Lisa JacobsenKey Cast
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Nancy Van Neste-BakerKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary
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Genres:Transgender, LGBTQ, fashion, youth, model, music, teen, educational
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Runtime:1 hour 28 minutes 4 seconds
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Completion Date:March 29, 2019
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Production Budget:75,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada, France
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED, Cannon, iPhone X
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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Raindance Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
September 18, 2019
UK Premiere
Official Opening Night Selection -
Cinema Diverse LGBTQ Film FestivalPalm Springs
United States
September 28, 2019
North American Premiere
Audience Favorite -
Mallorca International Film FestivalMallorca
Spain
October 29, 2019
European Premiere
Best Documentary Feature -
Docs Without Borders Film FestivalAustin, Texas
United States
February 1, 2020
North American Premiere
Outstanding Excellence - VIEWER IMPACT: MOTIVATIONAL/INSPIRATIONAL -
Docs Without Borders Film FestivalAustin Texas
United States
February 1, 2020
North American Premiere
Award of Excellence - Direction -
Docs Without Borders Film FestivalAustin Texas
United States
February 1, 2020
North American Premiere
Outstanding Excellence - Human Spirit -
Docs Without Borders Film FestivalAustin Texas
United States
February 1, 2020
North American Premiere
Outstanding Excellence - LGBTQ -
Docs Without BordersAustin Texas
United States
February 1, 2020
North American Premiere
Award of Excellence - Editing
Distribution Information
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OUTtvCountry: CanadaRights: Internet, Pay Per View, Paid TV
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Knowledge NetworkSales AgentCountry: CanadaRights: Free TV
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Gravitas DistributorsDistributorCountry: United StatesRights: All Rights
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Espresso Media DistributionDistributorCountry: WorldwideRights: All Rights
Gina (Hole) Lazarowich is a Canadian director, producer, and executive producer. Her directorial debut was with her feature-length documentary, Krow’s TRANSformation (2020), which earned her a nomination for Best Director at the Docs Without Borders Film Festival in the US (2020). Her film was chosen as the Opening Night red carpet selection at the Raindance Film Festival in London (2019) and went on to win Best Documentary at the Mallorca Spain Film Festival and Audience Favourite at the Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival. Krow's TRANSformation currently has distribution throughout the US with Gravitas and worldwide with Espresso Media International out of the UK. Her documentary can be viewed on multiple platforms worldwide including The Knowledge Network in Canada and Kanopy worldwide.
Gina has recently completed her first scripted directorial debut as well as producing the short film titled Robert, which is currently being submitted to film festivals worldwide (2025/26). Through her production company, They Film, she produced the multi award-winning (Manhattan, Jersey Shore and Best Shorts LA Film Festivals, etc) comedy short, Tom and Grant, alongside her Executive Producing partner Tom Cavanagh (The Flash). She has also received Associate Producer credits on other award-winning shorts.
Born and raised in West Vancouver, BC, Canada, Gina developed a passion for the arts at an early age, beginning with acting on stage at the age of eight and continuing through college. As a teenager, she starred in lead roles for two short films before following her passion to work behind the camera as she says she could, 'see all of the balls in the air', which has allowed an easy transition into directing, especially after having worked alongside so many top directors and cinematographers over the span of her almost four decade career.
Following graduation, Gina became a successful pro makeup artist in film and fashion for over two decades. She worked in Hollywood in the 90’s as a celebrity makeup artist, collaborating with notable ‘breakout’ stars such as Drew Barrymore, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Robert Downey Jr. Her first feature film as key makeup artist was in 1987, and she continued to key many more independent features.
In 2004, Gina retired from makeup artistry and established They Representation, an agency representing artists, photographers, cinematographers and other professionals in the industry as their agent. She also began producing their advertising, fashion, photo, video campaigns and gallery shoots. This all lead to the launch of her film company, They Film, especially when in 2015 when she was approached to produce a photo shoot of a Trans male model, and was then inspired asked them if she could document that journey...3 years later of following her subject, all while shooting 50% of the film herself, they ending up in Paris for the film's epic and emotional ending, she realized then that directing & producing film was her absolute passion. Ironically she had named her companies "They" (Representation, Produce & Film) back in 2003, long before the term 'They' meant what is does today (she actually owns the copyright to the name in Canada), or, even before she shot her Transgender documentary, Gina has always believed in gender equality and stands beside the LGBTQIA+ communities as an Ally, the term 'they' also defines in the dictionary as; "the whole group" with a play on her maiden last name 'Hole'. Gina is also politically active in Canada, lobbying both the Federal and Provincial governments on behalf of the Canadian film industry where she has been a member of Screen BC since 2013 as well as a member of the Producer Guild of BC and also was a member of IATSE 891's Makeup Department, where she took an Honorable Discharge back in 2004 to raise her children and start her next chapter as an agent and producer.
Additionally for the past 27 years she has co-owned PacificWest Special Effects with her a Senior Special Effects Supervisor husband, Tony Lazarowich (ELF, Final Destinations Bloodlines), who is also her producing partner. Together, they have worked on 7 film projects together as well as raised three grown children. They currently live on Bowen Island, BC in Canada