One hundred years ago all Mongolians were nomadic herders. Today only one-third of them are. Transition explores that transformation through the lens of one person’s life.

At 27, Khongoroo, a medical doctor, grapples with what it means to remain in the capital of Ulaanbaatar, what is lost and what is gained. She misses the beautiful but remote East Taiga, where two-dozen families live in a tight-knit community. Ulaanbaatar, a city of 1.5 million, has opportunities the countryside does not. Khongoroo must also decide whether to risk the health of her three-year-old daughter in the polluted capital or to send her to her grandmother.

Transition was filmed in Mongolia, with an international production team from Poland, New York City, Mongolia, Iceland, and Vermont.  Though the movie will not be officially released until next year, Sas Carey shares this pre-release screening with her community, as a way of thanking many here who have helped make it possible.

For twenty-five years, Carey has documented the traditional life of Mongolian nomadic herders. In 2009, she founded Nomadicare.ORG, a nonprofit with the mission of supporting and preserving traditional Mongolian nomadic culture through healthcare, films, and stories. Now, with her grandson Dune Mayberger recording sound for the latest documentary, she turns to the topic of how lifeways are changing.