Fresh out of cinemas and in time for Pride Month, the new film by acclaimed director Sophie Hyde (Good Luck to you, Leo Grande) is now available for community-hosted screenings across Australia.
Director Sophie Hyde, said, “We made this film with our hands on our hearts. Our intention was always to operate with kindness and care in a world that can feel divisive and dangerous and cruel. We wanted to center joy and love and to remember our histories and to celebrate our communities and the way that they evolve and rise even in dark times, even under tyranny and loss.”
JIMPA is Hyde’s most personal film to date, inspired by her own family. Filmmaker Hannah (Colman) takes her trans nonbinary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam, to visit their gay grandfather – lovingly known as “Jimpa” (Lithgow). But Frances’ desire to stay with Jimpa for a year abroad means Hannah is forced to reconsider her beliefs about parenting and finally confront old stories about the past.
Actor Aud Mason-Hyde, who plays the role of Frances in the film said, “I think it’s so rare that we see characters like Frances and Jim, queer characters who live full happy lives and whose problems don’t arise solely from their queerness… I hope these characters – and this film – can offer an opportunity for queer, trans communities and our allies to commune, organise and connect across generations.”
Funny, accessible, full of sadness and joy, and with a wonderful multi-generational cast, JIMPA is a celebration of LGBTIQA+ culture. It brings a queer family to screen, taking a nuanced look at just how much has changed in terms of social expectation and our understanding of family over three generations.
Director Sophie Hyde, said, “We are really encouraging people to invite people from different generations to their screenings, to come together during Pride month and ongoing and start meaningful conversations and to understand and celebrate our different lived experiences”.
The community-hosted screenings program is available to organisations, workplaces, community groups, schools and universities and individuals hosting ‘watch parties’ at home. Upon licensing the film, hosts receive promotional resources, additional videos from the film team, and a conversation guide built in partnership with Transcend Australia, Trans Justice Project, ACON Love Project and Life Rites.
JIMPA’s Host a Screening program launched in May with an emotional Q&A with Olivia Colman, Kate Box, Aud Mason-Hyde and Sophie Hyde that was livestreamed to communities across Australia.
Director Sophie Hyde said, “Kate is such a fine actor. I think everyone in Australia knows that and putting her and Olivia in scenes together was quite electric.”
In an interview with Variety, actor Olivia Colman said, “I love the fact that this film is about learning how to listen to each other without throwing the toys out the crib. I don’t understand how you can get so upset about it when someone is different”, and with Vanity Fair, Colman said, “If I could work with the queer community and trans people on every film, I’d have the happiest life. Also, I learned more about myself.”
The ‘Host a Screening’ program will open to communities, workplaces and individuals in New Zealand in August 2026.
View the JIMPA trailer here. JIMPA | Official Trailer
