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Journalism of Courage
The passing of American actor Robert Redford on Tuesday (September 16), at the age of 89, marked the end of an era, defined not only by iconic performances but also by his enduring legacy as the founder of the Sundance Film Festival.
Redford’s vision for independent creativity and his influence live on, stitched into the very fabric of Sundance — a film festival he founded to champion new voices and bold narratives.
A humble beginning
The festival’s roots trace back to August 1978, as the Utah/US Film Festival in Salt Lake City, when a handful of film enthusiasts in Utah wanted to draw attention to overlooked American cinema. The mission was simple: to showcase films beyond Hollywood’s glossy studio system. At first, it was more curiosity than cultural force – a regional event with noble ambition.
But it changed when Redford stepped in.
Redford’s Sundance
Redford, already a global star, had long sought to create a space for stories that did not fit the Hollywood formula, that did not have the potential to make millions of dollars.
Around 1968, he bought land in Utah, where he later built the Sundance Resort as a retreat for artists.
By 1981, he established the Sundance Institute, a non-profit organisation that was committed to the growth of independent artists. The Sundance Institute grew into a small festival after Redford purchased the struggling Utah/US Film Festival in 1984. The film festival adopted the name “Sundance” in 1991, borrowed from Redford’s iconic role in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which came out in 1969.
For Redford, the name was not just branding, but a philosophy. Sundance was to become home for bold storytelling, where directors could write and rise beyond the pressures of box-office victory.
Park City: a winter stage for new voices
By 1981, the festival relocated to Park City, Utah. The dates also changed from September to January. The move from late summer to midwinter was done to draw more attention from Hollywood.
The Sundance Institute, in March 2025, announced that the festival will be relocated to Boulder, Colorado, starting with the 2027 film festival. The Institute announced that this move is to produce and continue to grow the Festival with more theatres and venues that can support their programming needs.
Breakthrough films and directors
Perhaps Sundance’s most visible legacy is the roster of filmmakers whose careers it helped launch. Directors who first drew attention at Sundance include Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies, and Videptapes was premiered in 1989) Quentin Tarantino (his feature film Reservoir Dogs, premiered in January 1992), Darren Aronofsky (who had a breakthrough with Pi in 1998), The Coen Brothers — Joel and Ethan (their movie Blood Simple was premiered at the fest in 1985) amongst the others.
Some of the other breakout films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival also include: Little Miss Sunshine (premiered on January 20, 2006), the Oscar-winning psychological drama Whiplash (premiered in 2014), and Jordan Peele’s psychological horror film Get Out (premiered in January 2017).
Other filmmakers who found their footing at Sundance include Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere), Rian Johnson (Brick), and Chloé Zhao (Songs My Brothers Taught Me), all of whom went on to shape mainstream cinema.
Sundance’s influence goes well beyond premieres. It has changed how films are financed, distributed, and discussed. In the 1990s, its reputation for discovering hidden gems attracted distributors eager to snap up indie titles. Today, streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple also use Sundance as a marketplace for prestige films.
The festival has also expanded its mission. Indigenous Programs, Artist Accelerator Program, and Feature Film Program under the Sundance Institute show the need for inclusivity and innovation. By nurturing diverse voices, Sundance ensures the indie landscape remains dynamic and reflective of contemporary issues — from race and gender to climate change and technology.
