EXCLUSIVE: Sophie Hyde’s Sundance premiere Jimpa, starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, has locked in key deals, including to Kino Lorber for North America and Icon Film Distribution for the UK-Ireland, for Protagonist Pictures and CAA Media Finance.
Jimpa is about a mother who takes her non-binary teenager to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, with the teenager deciding they want to stay in the city for a year. This compels their mother to reconsider her beliefs about parenting.
Newcomer and Hyde’s own child, Aud Mason-Hyde, stars alongside Colman and Lithgow.
Further deals have been sealed with Bim (Italy), Spentzos (Greece), Nos Audiovisual (Portugal), Golden Scene (Hong Kong and Macao), Forum Film (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Israel) and Cinéart (Benelux).
Kismet will release the film in Australia and New Zealand, with the film opening the Adelaide Film Festival in October.
Jimpa was co-written by Hyde and long-time collaborator Matthew Cormack, produced by Liam Heyen, Hyde, Bryan Mason and Marleen Slot for Closer Productions, Mad Ones and Viking Film. The film shot in Australia and Amsterdam.
Producers are Hyde and Bryan Mason for Australia’s Closer Films, Marleen Slot for Viking Film in Amsterdam and Liam Heyen from Mad Ones Films in Sydney.
The deal was negotiated by vice president of acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer for Kino Lorber and by Icon Film Distribution CEO Spencer Pollard.
“Jimpa is a celebration of family and the wonderful, messy love of a group of people trying to do well by each other,” said Hyde. “It is a project that examines the stories we tell about our own lives, a love story to parenting and what we learn from our children and our families, and it’s made with a lot of love. We are thrilled to be partnering with so many wonderful people dedicated to bringing this film to audiences across the world.”
Funders for the film are Screen Australia and Align with the support of Netherlands Film Fund and the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, in association with the Finnish Impact Film Fund, Aurora Studios, Cinéart, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund and Mind The Gap Film Finance.
Further financing was provided by Kojo, Closer Films and Mad Ones Films. It was developed with the assistance of Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation.
Australian filmmaker Hyde’s previous credits include Sundance premieres Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Animals and 52 Tuesdays.
“We’re delighted to be reunited with Sophie Hyde on the release of Jimpa a dozen years after bringing her narrative feature debut 52 Tuesdays to North American audiences,” said Lisa Schwartz, chief distribution and revenue officer for Kino Lorber. “Sophie’s commitment to telling stories about queer families that invite diverse audiences to engage, connect and ultimately ignite conversations that build understanding and acceptance is more essential than ever.”
Pollard added: “Hot off the heels of an excellent Sundance premiere, we can’t wait to bring this excellent film to UK and Irish audiences early next year.”
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