CONECTA’s 10th edition will honour renowned international journalist John Hopewell with the Conecta Honorary Award during the event in Magaluf, Mallorca, running May 25–28, 2026.
As International Features Editor for Variety and one of the most respected journalists in the global film and television industry, John Hopewell has spent more than four decades building bridges between cultures, regions, and audiovisual industries. His work has been key in bringing visibility to film and television produced outside the traditional major centers, significantly contributing to the international projection of Spain, Europe, and Latin America.
From his first articles on Spanish cinema in the late 1970s to his leadership in expanding Variety’s international coverage, John Hopewell has championed a narrative rooted in talent, diversity, and the global vocation of the audiovisual industry. His initiatives in markets and festivals worldwide have broadened international conversation and strengthened connections among professionals across continents.
Born in Purley, Surrey, United Kingdom, in 1957, John Hopewell studied History and Spanish at the University of Oxford. He began his journalistic career writing about Spanish cinema and collaborating with outlets such as Sight and Sound and the BBC. He later worked as a correspondent and editor for international publications including Screen International and Moving Pictures before joining Variety in 1994. Throughout his career, he has promoted the visibility of emerging cinematographies in Spain, Latin America, North Africa, and Europe, organized film showcases, and received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to audiovisual journalism and cultural dissemination.
Upon learning of the award, John Hopewell said: “I have been extremely fortunate. Carlos Saura once recalled a Chinese proverb stating that work is what involves suffering. In that sense, I have spent my life not working, but pursuing a passion: recalibrating the importance of other film and television industries and cultures beyond the United States and the United Kingdom.”
He also emphasized that he views the award as a recognition that goes beyond the personal: “I receive this award as a broader recognition of my colleagues, of the journalists I have shared my profession with, and of film and television journalism in general, which decades ago was somewhat marginalized and today is vital in a world with so much ‘noise.'”
The Conecta Honor Award recognizes not only Hopewell’s prolific career but also his understanding of journalism as a central driving force in the global audiovisual ecosystem. The international industry, and particularly the Spanish and Ibero-American sectors, has found in Hopewell an ally, a rigorous analyst, and a keen observer capable of contextualizing creative and industrial processes with depth and historical perspective.
Géraldine Gonard, director of CONECTA Magaluf-Mallorca, explained the motivation behind the award: “John Hopewell has been, for decades, one of those indispensable voices for all of us working in this industry. His perspective, rigorous, curiously global, and uncompromising, has opened many doors for talent and caonnected cinematographies around the world. For Spain, Ibero-America, and the entire European audiovisual ecosystem, he has been a steadfast and, I believe, indispensable ally. Recognizing his career is, for CONECTA, a tribute full of gratitude to someone who has transformed the way we see and tell our industry’s story.”
With this award, CONECTA 10 also seeks to highlight and honor the work of specialized media professionals whose contributions help audiences understand and engage with diverse audiovisual industries and cultures around the world.
