USA: Sundance founder Robert Redford says he's glad the film festival has stuck to its roots
Record ID:
644121
USA: Sundance founder Robert Redford says he's glad the film festival has stuck to its roots
- Title: USA: Sundance founder Robert Redford says he's glad the film festival has stuck to its roots
- Date: 22nd January 2011
- Summary: PARK CITY, UTAH, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 20, 2011) (REUTERS) ROBERT REDFORD WALKING ON STAGE CUTAWAY OF MEDIA WIDE OF REDFORD AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT REDFORD, SAYING "So we started on a shoestring and as I look back on it, I think I might have felt bad about that at the time. But as I look back, I think that's not a bad thing. I don't think it was a bad thing to be starting on a shoestring as scary as it was because I think that has .. I've learned that that has become really our core - keeping that shoestring idea in place. As things get bigger and larger and maybe more successful, keeping that as part of our core has always felt very right. That's why the festival has the look and feel it does." MEDIA CUTAWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT REDFORD, SAYING "A lot of people said in the very beginning the idea you've got up there is not going to work because it's not going to be able to be commercial. You won't be able to show trailers, you won't be able to do marketing and advertising. I tried to explain that's not our point. The point is just to show what's out there and create an opportunity for the filmmakers and audiences to find that work. And wherever it goes is really some other people's business. We can only hope for the best." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 6th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA5FF70SKHCJS7GBGBL1UFC1TIZ
- Story Text: Robert Redford opened the Sundance Film Festival Thursday (January 20) with a conversation with attending media. He talked about the importance of the independent filmmaker and how he's very proud of the look and feel of the festival.
The Sundance Film Festival started in 1978 and after a few logistical changes has made its home in Park City, Utah. The festival attracts thousands of films and serves as an environment for actors, filmmakers and press to interact. But as I look back, I think that's not a bad thing," said Redford. "I've learned that that has become really our core - keeping that shoestring idea in place."
The Academy Award winner explained that the core of Sundance has never been about seeking commerical success, but rather the focusing on the voice of the independents and providing a forum for their vision.
"A lot of people said in the very beginning the idea you've got up there is not going to work because it's not going to be able to be commercial," said Redford. "I tried to explain that's not our point. The point is just to show what's out there and create an opportunity for the filmmakers and audiences to find that work. And wherever it goes is really some other people's business."
This year's festival opens with four films in different categories: US documentary and dramatic and world documentary and dramatic films. Two of those films are "The Guard" a Irish police drama starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle and "Sing A Song," a documentary on singer/activist Harry Belafonte. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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