by FilmInk Staff
South Australian made and South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) supported productions Jimpa [pictured] and Never Get Busted! have been selected to premiere at the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival, announced today.
Jimpa from SA’s Closer Productions, starring Olivia Colman, John Lithgow and SA’s Aud Mason-Hyde and shot in Adelaide and Amsterdam earlier this year, will have its world premiere in the Sundance Premiere section. The selection marks SA director Sophie Hyde’s fourth Sundance outing following Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022), Animals (2019) and her feature debut 52 Tuesdays (2014) for which she was awarded Best Director, World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Today’s announcement builds on acclaimed South Australian film collective Closer Productions’ suite of projects to have been welcomed at Sundance with Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure selected in 2011 and Sam Klemke’s Time Machine in 2015.
Jimpa was written by Matthew Cormack and Sophie Hyde (co-creators of 52 Tuesdays), produced by Liam Heyen (Mad Ones Films), Sophie Hyde, Bryan Mason and Marleen Slot with co-producer Cyna Strachan. It was supported by both the SAFC and the Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund (AFFIF).
Jimpa tells of Hannah (Olivia Colman) who takes her nonbinary teenager, Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde), to Amsterdam to visit their gay grandfather, Jim (John Lithgow) – lovingly known as Jimpa. But Frances’ desire to stay abroad with Jimpa for a year means Hannah is forced to reconsider her beliefs about parenting and finally confront old stories about the past.
The film also stars Daniel Henshall (The Royal Hotel), Kate Box (Erotic Stories), Eamon Farren (The Witcher), Cody Fern (American Horror Story), Tilda Cobham-Hervey (I Am Woman), Deborah Kennedy (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart), Hans Kesting (Nr. 10), Zoë Love Smith (Skam NL), Romana Vrede (I Don’t Wanna Dance), Jean Janssens (Campus 12), Frank Sanders (The Rozettes musical) and Bryn Chapman Parish (Heartbreak High).
Sophie Hyde said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to Sundance and I can’t wait to show the work of our talented creative team including Olivia, John, Aud and all of our beautiful ensemble cast.”
South Australian documentary Never Get Busted!, from SA’s Projector Films will premiere as one of only three titles selected for the Sundance Episodic section. It follows Barry Cooper, a highly decorated Texas narcotics officer – until he turned on the police force by busting crooked cops and teaching drug users how to hide their stash.
Jimpa and Never Get Busted are among three Australian productions selected for the Sundance program, which runs in Utah, USA from 23 January – 2 February 2025, with the further selection of Australian writer/director Michael Shanks’ Together, which stars Dave Franco, Alison Brie and South Australian Damon Herriman, with SA’s Sean Lahiff credited as editor.
Sundance has a history of launching Australian works into the US market including the phenomenally successful debut from Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk To Me in 2023, and iconic SAFC-backed feature films including Run Rabbit Run (2023), Scott Hicks’ Shine (1996), Wolf Creek (2005), The Babadook (2014), I Am Mother (2019), Top End Wedding (2019), and Closer Productions’ Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011), 52 Tuesdays (2014) and Sam Klemke’s Time Machine (2015), just to name a few.
Arts Minister Andrea Michaels MP said: “It is so exciting to have Jimpa and Never Get Busted! airing at the Sundance Film Festival. Sundance is one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals and their inclusion speaks volumes about the extraordinary talent we have in the South Australian film industry. I’d like to congratulate the teams behind both films along with the SAFC for their continued support of incredible South Australian productions.”
SAFC Head of Production and Development Leanne Saunders said: “The SAFC is so proud to have South Australian creative excellence celebrated once again at the Sundance Film Festival. South Australia is known to punch above its weight on the world stage, and the selection of two such outstanding and original productions further confirms the incredible scope of talent we are proud to support.
“It is notable that both productions are rooted in South Australian creativity, but telling stories with a global view, not limited to state or country borders – from the storytelling and casting to financing and shooting locations, taking our place firmly on the world stage of screen.
“Congratulations to the entire creative teams behind Jimpa and Never Get Busted! for this prestigious honour.”
Screen Australia COO Grainne Brunsdon said: “The Australian titles selected for Sundance are a testament to the incredible talent and vision behind each of the films, and we are incredibly proud to see our stories recognised at such a prestigious festival. This achievement reflects the dedication and strength of Australian filmmakers in bringing diverse, compelling narratives to international audiences.”
A history of Australian titles at Sundance is available via the Screen Australia website here.
JIMPA is a Closer Productions, Mad Ones Films and Viking Film production. Major production investment from Screen Australia and Align with the support of Netherlands Film Fund and the Netherlands Film Production Incentive. Financed in association with The Finnish Impact Film Fund, Aurora Studios, Cinéart, The South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund and Mind The Gap Film Finance. Further financing provided by Kojo, Closer Films and Mad Ones Films. ANZ distribution by Kismet and The Unquiet Collective, and Cinéart is distributing in the Benelux region. International sales by Protagonist Pictures and CAA for North America. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia and the South Australian Film Corporation.
