Directed by Sophie Hyde, the film Jimpa will premiere Feb. 6 in Los Angeles and New York with a national expansion to follow. The film stars Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, Aud Mason-Hyde and Oscar-nominee John Lithgow. The story is inspired by the filmmaker’s own personal story who co-wrote the story with Matthew Cormack.
Filmmaker Hannah (Olivia Colman) takes her trans nonbinary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, lovingly known as “Jimpa” (John Lithgow). When Frances expresses a desire to stay with Jimpa for a year abroad, Hannah is forced to reconsider her parenting beliefs and the stories she has long told about her family. As Jimpa faces the difficulties of aging as a gay man in a generation that never expected to grow old and Frances grapples with the disappointment of heroes falling short of their ideals, Hannah learns to navigate the differing perspectives of her father and her child.
Sophie Hyde (she/they) directed Emma Thompson in the BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated comedy Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. Her debut feature drama 52 Tuesdays won the Directing Award at Sundance and the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale. She directed and produced feature comedy Animals based on the novel of the same name by Emma Jane Unsworth.
Queer, nonbinary trans actor Aud Mason-Hyde is the child of the director and considered a standout at the Sundance Film Festival for their performance.
Watch the trailer for Jimpa below:
–Rich Lopez