Olivia Colman is “marvellous” in Jimpa Mark De Blok/ Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Get your handkerchiefs at the ready, as Olivia Colman’s new family drama Jimpa is set to make you feel every emotion. The star of The Crown and Broadchurch steps into the shoes of a mother who re-examines her past when she embarks on a trip to Amsterdam with her trans, non-binary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to visit her gay father Jimpa (John Lithgow).

The film packs an emotional punch, not just because of the heartwarming storyline, but also because it’s based on director Sophie Hyde’s (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) real-life story, with Olivia playing a fictionalised version of the filmmaker.

So far, Jimpa has only been screened at international film festivals, but the good news is that it’s coming to the UK. While we patiently wait for the drama’s release, here’s everything you need to know.

What is Jimpa about?

In Jimpa, Olivia plays Hannah, an Australian filmmaker who journeys to Amsterdam with her trans non-binary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to reconnect with her gay father Jimpa (John Lithgow). Jimpa, who left the family home in Adelaide when Hannah was a child to live more freely, enjoys an eccentric and hedonistic lifestyle in the LBGTQ+ friendly Dutch capital, which soon captivates Frances.

Mark De Blok/ Courtesy of Sundance Institute

As Frances announces they’d like to stay with Jimpa for a year, Hannah is forced to reconsider her approach to parenting and confront long-buried truths about her past, identity and the stories we tell our families.

Who’s in the cast of Jimpa?

The cast of Jimpa includes:

Olivia Colman as Hannah

Aud Mason-Hyde as Frances

John Lithgow as Jimpa

Bryn Chapman Parish as young Jim

Kate Box as Emily, Hannah’s sister

Daniel Henshall as Harry

Eamon Farren as Richard

Deborah Kennedy as Katherine

Hans Kesting as Uri

Zoë Love Smith as Isa

Is there a trailer for Jimpa?

Yes, there is a trailer for Jimpa and you can watch it below:

Is Jimpa any good?

Olivia’s performance in Jimpa has been earning rave reviews, with The Guardian describing her as “marvellous” and praising her ability to act with “such swift and convincing emotions”. As The Hollywood Reporter summed up: Jimpa was “made with love and acted with great empathy.”

How can I watch Jimpa?

Jimpa has just been picked up by Icon Film Distribution, meaning it will get a UK cinema release date in due course. A release date hasn’t been announced, but we do know it will arrive at some point in 2026 and we’ll share the details as soon as we have a confirmed date.

What other family dramas can I watch now?

If you love a bit of family drama, head over to Netflix and binge all eight episodes of House of Guinness. The tense drama charts the fallout after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for Guinness Brewery’s storming success, and the impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children.

Or, for a real teal-jerker watch Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen in Best Interests on BBC iPlayer. The acting powerhouses play a married couple who are appealing a doctor’s devastating decision to end treatment for their sick 13-year-old daughter, Marnie (Niamh Moriarty).