Sky Hopinkah and his film Jaaji Approx. have been touring the film festival circuit across the U.S. and Canada. Hopinkah was recently honored with the Most Promising Filmmaker Award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
The Ann Arbor Film Festival was held on March 15 to 20, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Michigan Theatre.  The festival is the oldest experimental film festival and third oldest film festival in the U.S.
The film festival attracts as many as 3,000 independent films from over 65 countries each year.  This year’s festival had 180 films from 25 countries in their six day event.
Previous filmmakers of the festival include Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Devo, and George Lucas.
The Ann Arbor Film Festival also serves as an Academy Award qualifying film festival in the U.S.  Its mission is: to support bold, visionary filmmakers, advance the art form of film and new media, and engage communities with remarkable cinematic experiences.
Sky said he was at the festival when he heard he won the award.
“I saw that I was on the awards program for films to be screened that won an award.  It wasn't until the actual awards film program that I found out which award I received,” said Hopinkah.
Sky won the Tom Berman Award for Most Promising Filmmaker.
“This was truly an honor.  I was shocked and surprised to say the least, but also very humbled.  Receiving this award at such an historic and distinguished film festival is truly a privilege and a joy,” said Sky.
“From what I've gathered, Tom Berman was a University of Michigan Film student, an early supporter and advocate for the film festival, and a close friend to the film community.”
This is the second award received for Jáaji Approx., the first award being 3rd prize at Media City Film Festival last July in 2015 said Hopinkah.