Joel Hopkins, director of JUMP TOMORROW has been selected as a finalist for The Perrier “Bubbling Under Award” for first-time filmmakers at the Florida Film Festival (FFF), June 8-17, 2001. JUMP TOMORROW is about a young Nigerian man on the verge of being in an arranged marriage who suddenly questions his situation after an encounter with a stunning Latin woman, who is also about to be married. The award was presented at the Gala Awards ceremony held at Universal Studios.
Perrier is partnering with five film festivals nationwide to give individual awards to first-time feature directors. At the end of the year, Perrier will assemble a jury to review these five films and select a grand-prize winner, who will receive a grant of $50,000 to be applied to their next production. “Perrier seeks to acknowledge and honor the tremendous effort a director must make to bring their first feature to the screen,” said Elena Paraskeva, Marketing Manager of International Brands at the Perrier Group of America. “We look forward to promoting the self expression that compels many to make films, and to recognizing and honoring their independent spirit.”
“JUMP TOMORROW is an artful, exuberant film. It is very exciting to see this wonderfully talented filmmaker recognized as a finalist for The Perrier “Bubbling Under Award,” said Sigrid Tiedtke, Florida Film Festival Co-Founder & Co-Director.
“The Perrier ‘Bubbling Under Award’ is a significant and refreshing statement in support of American Independent Filmmaking. It will provide a worthy recipient with two things that matter: cash support and great exposure. We are thrilled to be chosen as a participant in the award,” continued Tiedtke.
Joel Hopkins moved to the United States in 1994 to attend the Graduate Film Program at New York University. The London, England native won the prestigious First Prize at the 1998 Graduate School Wasserman Awards at NYU (previously won by filmmakers Spike Lee and Ang Lee) for his thesis short, JORGE. After competing at the Sundance Film Festival, numerous honors at other festivals around the world included a BBC Drama Award. Hopkins and his producer were then recipients of the $100,000 first prize from the inaugural Richard Vague Film Production Fund which was invested directly into the budget of JUMP TOMORROW, their feature debut. Along with JORGE, Hopkins has written and directed three other shorts, GROWTH, THE INDEPENDENT, and THE SOUTH BANK – A DAY IN THE LIFE. Hopkins, who received his BA in Fine Arts at Kent University in England, lives in New York City.
Celebrating its tenth year, the Florida Film Festival showcases the best American Independent and Foreign Films. This year, Orlando’s event takes place from Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 17. Presented by Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, the Festival features more than 50 feature films (both narrative and documentary), over 70 shorts, and a full array of forums, parties, and other special events. Other films in consideration for The Perrier “Bubbling Under Award” at the FFF were THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUT, BIG EDEN, THE PHOTOGRAPHER, and ROOF TO ROOF.
