Writer/moderator Barbara Chai, Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford, former Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam, and former Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper attend the Day One Press Conference.
By Jessica Herndon
Every January, before the Sundance Film Festival premieres begin and the streets of Park City fill with film lovers, the Fest opens with a moment of reflection and intention. For years, that moment often belonged to Robert Redford. With his trademark mix of quiet conviction and sharp wit, the Sundance Institute’s founder would take the stage at the Fest opening day press conference to speak from the heart about the state of independent cinema, the artists who shape it, and the vision of the Festival and the Institute he built from the ground up.
In rare clips from 2014 through 2018, Redford waxes poetic on the enduring spirit of the arts nonprofit. He muses on the Institute’s purpose, celebrates its growth, and reminds us why bold storytelling is so important. Whether he’s reflecting on Sundance Institute’s origins or championing the next generation of filmmakers — from those who participated in the labs to the storytellers screening projects at the Fest — his passion is palpable.
Walk down memory lane with us as we look back on these opening day events and revisit some of our favorite Robert Redford quotes.
2018 Sundance Film Festival Opening Day
“I could see and feel that there were other voices out there and other stories to be told that were maybe more risky. They were more heading toward independence, but they weren’t being given a chance. I thought without harming the industry, maybe we can add to it”. — Robert Redford on his initial vision for the Sundance Institute and championing voices outside of the studio system.
2017 Sundance Film Festival Opening Day
“Documentaries have become more and more important as the news media world has shrunk into more of a soundbite world. Everything is so clipped and short — it gives you no time to digest. No time to contemplate. It’s already moving on to the next event. Therefore, documentaries are having more of an important role than ever because it becomes like long-form journalism. It has a chance to really tell the story so the public has the chance to really digest it and see how they feel about it.” — Robert Redford on why documentaries are essential viewing.
2016 Sundance Film Festival Opening Day
“Don’t go from school to school and film school and then make a movie. You can, but you’re going to be relying on the effects that that filmmaker did. … To me, what’s more important, if you want to own the story you’re telling — get out in the world. Hit the road and have some real-life experience that’s gonna feed your mind.” — Robert Redford on his advice to young filmmakers.
2015 Sundance Film Festival Opening Day
“Since I believe change is inevitable, I want us to be able to ride with it and use it to [our] advantage. The Festival was meant to use change to underline the word diversity. And diversity is something I think moves the ball — and that’s something I think we represent.” — Robert Redford on why change in the independent film landscape is valuable.
2014 Sundance Film Festival Opening Day
“The obvious place to take a Festival like this would have been either New York or Los Angeles. And I said, Well, let’s go to Utah. Let’s put it in the middle of the winter. Make it weird. Make it weird and strange for people to get to, and maybe that will be something. But also, and maybe more important, it was a place to put this new concept of independent film, which I never saw as an ‘other’ from Hollywood. I never saw it as a counterpoint to Hollywood as much as an add-on.” — Robert Redford on starting Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
