PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 21, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Robert Redford held court Thursday, fielding questions from the global press to officially open his 32nd annual Sundance Film Festival.
What does Redford, 79, think about the Oscars, one questioner wanted to know.
“I don’t think about it,” the actor/director/festival founder said. “Once the work is done I move on.”
And from another questioner, what will Redford’s schedule be like for the next 11 days?
“I’m not going to tell you,” Redford said, guarding his privacy, a twinkle in his eye.
Redford was there to talk about the festival, intended to foster creativity and independent voices. Time and global events have opened up a world of new viewpoints, allowing the festival to diversify to its programs, and to let people from distant lands to tell their stories in their own voices.
Why do all this in Utah?
“I came to here because of the beauty of the land,” Redford said. “Los Angeles is no longer the city I loved as a kid. So I came to Utah …. And why not bring a festival here, because it’s weird to bring it in Utah in the middle of the winter.
“We want to keep things weird. We want to keep things offbeat. It’s more interesting. It wouldnt be the place you would expect a film festival to come.”
The 2016 Sundance Film Festival runs Jan. 21 through 31 in Park City, with satellite sites in Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance. For film descriptions, schedules, and other festival details, visit the festival website.
