Joel Hopkins

Joel Hopkins (born 6 September 1970) is a British independent film director and screenwriter best known for his films Jump Tomorrow and Last Chance Harvey (2008).

Career Hopkins was born in London, England, he moved to New York City to attend university. His first feature film, 2001's Jump Tomorrow, was based on his 1998 short film "Jorge", which he filmed in New York while attending New York University's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. For "Jorge", Hopkins won NYU's Wasserman Award—a US$100,000 grant towards filming another project—which went towards the production budget for Jump Tomorrow. The film received positive reviews from critics, but was only granted a limited release and never reached a wider audience. He won 2002's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, as well as a number of other awards at film festivals where the film was screened.

After writing and directing Jump Tomorrow, Hopkins said, "I'd been attached to films that haven't happened, as a director. I've had scripts I've written that have almost happened." When Hopkins was being considered to direct the 2005 children's film Nanny McPhee, for which he was ultimately unsuccessful, he met with Emma Thompson, who had written the script and would star as the title character.

His film The Love Punch was selected to be screened in the Gala Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

Personal life Hopkins' wife is Nicola Usborne, who is also his producing partner and has produced both Jump Tomorrow and Last Chance Harvey.

Hopkins is the son of Michael and Patricia Hopkins of the prominent British architectural firm Hopkins Architects.