Born in the year 1984, in the charming town of Ferndale, Washington, Sky Hopinka is a proud descendant of the esteemed Pechanga band of Luiseno Native Americans. As a result, he has always been deeply fascinated by the rich cultural heritage and languages of his Indigenous ancestors, and has made a conscious effort to incorporate these elements into his work.
During his formative years at Portland State University, Hopinka's interest in documentary filmmaking began to take shape. He not only honed his skills in the classroom, but also had the opportunity to teach languages such as Chinuk Wawa to others, further solidifying his passion for preserving and promoting Indigenous languages.
Years later, in 2013, Hopinka decided to take his talents to the next level by enrolling in a graduate program for experimental cinema at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. It was during this time that he was heavily influenced by the work of renowned filmmaker James Benning, whose innovative approach to storytelling and visual aesthetics undoubtedly had a profound impact on Hopinka's own artistic vision.
