Sundance: The return of the festival
Hollywood invades Northern Utah this week for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the event, which kicked off Thursday and runs until Jan. 30.
The Festival
Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford spoke to members of the press at an opening press conference Thursday, reminiscing about the festival’s early days and commenting on the future of the independent film festival.
“We started on a shoestring,” Redford said. “As things get bigger, larger and more successful, keeping that as our core has always felt right.”
Redford said while the festival has certainly grown over the last 30 years – originally the Egyptian Theater was the only venue for films – organizers have kept the heart of the competition true.
“We don’t program for commerciality, we program for ideas,” Redford said. “We do it the same way we did 25 years ago.”
Since its inception, the Sundance festival has grown to be one of the premier U.S. film festivals. Sundance festival director John Cooper said that this year drew over 10,000 entrants.
“This is going to be one of our biggest year’s ever,” Cooper said.
With the growth of the event, Park City’s Main Street has seen an increase of marketing presences, which Cooper referred to as “riff-raff,” that take advantage of the crowds, something that Cooper and Redford suggested may contribute to the perception of Sundance growing more commercial.
“I wish they could find a way to contribute to independent film or the arts,” Cooper said.
Redford spoke of the festival’s future and the Sundance Institute’s plans to incorporate new technologies to spread the reach of independent film.
“The democratization of the Internet has created terrific opportunities,” Redford said.
This year a number of films will be available to stream online and theaters in select states in the U.S. and abroad will be showcasing Sundance films, Redford said.
Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam said, “We’re active all over the world, not just for 10 days in January.”
One reporter asked Redford if he had plans for his retirement, referencing the recent media departures of Regis Philbin and Larry King.
“I have not thought about retirement. I’m going to die, but …,” Redford said, trailing off to audience laughter.
The Films
“I love the films that are in this festival. I love all of them,” Redford said. “The point is just to share what’s out there.”
Screenings at Park City are, for the most part, sold out, but there are still options for those wishing to view this year’s festival crop. In Salt Lake, films are being shown at the Broadway Cinema, Rose Wagner Center and Tower Theatre. Select films are also being screened at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden.
For those who prefer the Park City experience, a limited number of tickets are released each day at 8 a.m. or festival goers can also obtain waitlist tickets by arriving two hours before a specific screening. All screenings in Park City are $15 per ticket. Be prepared for a parking nightmare, or bring some money for a park and ride lot – shuttle service is free.
A few films, such as the Ridley and Tony Scott produced “Life in a Day,” can be viewed online at sundance.org. “Life in a Day” is made up of moments from around the world captured on a single day – July 24 – and sent in by individuals.
Besides the films themselves, Park City’s Main Street is full of things to do. Whether waiting for a film to start or just hoping to catch glimpse of a Hollywood A-lister, there are a number of bars and restaurants as well as festival-sponsored venues with live music and panel discussions. Honda, a festival sponsor, also has a space near the Egyptian Theatre where the public can learn about the company’s latest technology and see ASIMO, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot.
A new feature for this year’s festival is the New Frontier station at the old Miner’s Hospital. Open to the public, the venue shows a number of exhibits that demonstrate the latest in film technology and point towards the future of film. Redford said that in his opinion, the future of film lies in hybrid films that blend different narrative styles and visual technologies. He said that in the past festival sponsors like Sony would have a location exhibiting their technology, but didn’t showcase the potential product.
“Something was dead,” Redford said. “What was missing was the art that accompanies the technology.”
Still, with all the different facets of the festival, Redford said the focus is, on showcasing the work of independent film artists.
“The point has always been to do whatever we can to create opportunities for new artists,” Redford said.
Cooper said that 30 percent of this year’s selections are international. He quoted the film “These Amazing Shadows” – one of this year’s selections – saying, “stories unite us and theories divide us” and said that the stories told at the festival cross borders.
– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu