The Reason I Jump

Feature Documentary • 2020 • 82’ • UK/USA

Based on the bestselling book by Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida’s revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.

Acutely observed moments in the lives of each of the characters are connected by passages from Naoki’s writing, in which a young Japanese boy journeys through an epic landscape, gradually discovering what his autism means to him, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps.

The film distils these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.

Director:
Jerry Rothwell

Producers:
Jeremy Dear, Stevie Lee

Producer:
Al Morrow

Executive Producers:
Stewart le Maréchal, Jonny Persey, Peter Webber, Jody Allen, Paul G. Allen, Rocky Collins, Jannat Gargi, Ruth Johnston, Carole Tomko, Lizzie Francke

  • Audience Award 
    — Sundance Film Festival 2020 [World Premiere]

     Impact Award
    Audience Award
    — Vancouver International Film Festival 2020

    Best Sound
    Best Documentary 
    Best Music     [Nominee]
    — BIFA

    Best Feature [Nominee]
    Best Director [Nominee]
    — IDA Documentary Awards

    Best Cinematography for Ruben Woodin Dechamps [Nominee]
    — Critic’s Choice

    Outstanding Achievement in Music for Nainita Desai [Nominee]
    — Cinema Eye Honours

    Public Award
    — Festival Atmosphères 2020

    Sorriso Diverso Award
    (Best Foreign Film)
    — Rome International Film Festival 2020

    Segundo Premio
    — Seminici Valladolid: TIEMPO DE HISTORIA

    Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary
    — Denver Film Festival 2020

    One World Film Festival 2020
    HotDocs 2020
    AFI Docs 2020
    DokuFest 2020
    Millenium Against Gravity 2020
    Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2020
    DocVille Film Festival 2020
    Lemesos Int'l Doc Festival 2020
    DMZ International Film Festival 2020
    Athens International Film Festival 2020
    Haifa International Film Festival 2020
    Academia Film Olomouc 2020
    BFI London Film Festival 2020
    Hot Springs Film Festival 2020
    Valladolid IFF - Semici 2020
    Denver Film Festival 2020
    Chicago Int’l Film Festival 2020
    Ashland Indie Film Festival 2020
    Bright Lights Film Series 2020
    Milwaukee Film Festival 2020
    Montclair Film Festival 2020
    Tallgrass Film Festival 2020
    Denver Film Festival 2020
    DOC NYC 2020
    EnergaCameraimage Int’l Film Festival 2020
    Ajyal Film Festival 2020
    SOLIDARITY Tel Aviv Human Rights Film Festival 2020
    Istanbul Film Festival IKSV 2020
    Hamptons Docs Film Festival 2020
    New British Film Festival 2020

  • “The Reason I Jump will change how you think, and how many films can say that?”
    Screen Daily

    “A work of cinematic alchemy.”
    The Hollywood Reporter

    “As emotionally piercing as it is beautiful to behold.”
    Variety

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