Sundance Pays Tribute to Robert Redford in Its Nostalgic and Historic Farewell to Park City

A Collective Homage to the Hollywood Icon Who Defined Independent Cinema
"Robert Redford, you are a God to me." The phrase uttered this Friday by director Gregg Araki before presenting his new film 'I Want Your Sex' encapsulates the spirit of this edition of the Sundance Film Festival: a collective tribute to the Hollywood star who turned Park City, Utah, into the epicenter of independent cinema and who is now being nostalgically bid farewell by artists, audiences, and organizers.

"I think nobody in the Hollywood industry ever thought, 'I’m going to use my incredible and powerful superstar talent to create this space for really weird filmmakers with different voices,'" said Araki. "Possibly without Sundance, I wouldn’t be here," added the exponent of New Queer Cinema, who launched his career at this event in 1992 with 'The Living End.'

The Enduring Legacy of Redford
The figure of Redford has always been present at the Sundance Festival: in the introductory videos before screenings at the iconic theaters of the small, mountainous Park City, in the anecdotes of those fortunate enough to have met him, or in the speculation about his life when he stopped walking the streets of the picturesque town that at this time of year equally blends cinema and skiing.

This year, his legend has grown. The actor, who masterfully fused talent, beauty, and activism, passed away on September 16 last year at the age of 89 at his home in Utah, leaving a void in a community at a time of transition for the most influential independent film festival in the U.S.

"There is loss, but there is also opportunity. To remember what he did and why, and to carry that with us in our decisions," said Amy Redford, the actor's daughter and a member of the Sundance Institute's board of trustees, during a meeting with the press.

A Festival in Transition
The festival, directed by Eugene Hernandez, will relocate to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027, amid a reconfiguration process marked by financial pressures and changes in the consumption of independent cinema, after more than four decades of history.

On the red carpets of this year's premieres, organizers proudly wear pins featuring Redford in his unforgettable Sundance Cassidy outfit—his character in the film 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' which catapulted him to fame in the late 1960s. "A colleague made them for us," one of them told EFE.

On the free shuttle buses connecting the bustling town, attendees introduce themselves, discuss the films they've just seen, and the common phrase is never missing: "The festival is named after that movie."

Personal Memories and Community Bonds
Michelle Satter, founding senior director of the Sundance Institute's Artist Programs and a close friend of the actor from 'The Sting' (1973), told EFE: "I think about him every day."

"Redford will always be my guiding light—his deep vision, his love for storytelling and artists, and his ability to bring us all together as a community—it has a meaning larger than I could ever imagine," she added.

Others less close, like festival programmer Basil Tsiokos, recall the naturalness with which the Hollywood icon strolled through the festival and participated in its events.

"I remember once he was surprisingly called to the stage to participate in a Q&A for a film I was moderating. It was totally unexpected and out of nowhere I had to improvise. He was very generous, very approachable, and always supported and accompanied filmmakers," he told EFE.

Mixed Feelings About the Move
The venue change represents, for many attendees, the definitive end of their connection to Sundance. Aaron, a 49-year-old businessman who has traveled to the festival for twenty years, confesses he is not interested in attending in Boulder.

"Park City is special, not just because of the nostalgia that it started here, but because it takes over the entire town and you feel like you’re in a winter film camp, and that’s what makes it so incredible," said the Los Angeles native.

A town resident assured that the community is divided in its opinions. Although a self-professed follower of the festival, she noted that this edition would be her last: "I’m not sad, it’s time for it to go; we have to let it go, and I think Boulder will be a new learning stage," she told EFE.

But not everyone feels that way. Nicole Reagan from Atlanta has traveled to the event seven times and is excited about its future.

"Although there is a bittersweet feeling, I think the new chapter awaiting the festival is exciting," she told EFE.

The Sundance Festival will announce its winners on January 30 but will continue with activities until February 1. The presence of artists such as Natalie Portman, Olivia Colman, Ethan Hawke, and Jenna Ortega, among others, is still expected.