Sundance Honors Robert Redford and His 'Defiant Spirit'

      Robert Redford, who passed away today at the age of 89, made significant contributions to cinema. One of his most notable impacts is seen with each new edition of the Sundance film festival, which he played a key role in founding and popularizing.

      “We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our founder and friend, Robert Redford,” stated the Sundance Institute in a Tuesday announcement.

      “Bob’s vision of a space and platform for independent voices sparked a movement that, more than four decades later, has inspired countless artists and transformed cinema both in the U.S. and globally.

      “In addition to his vast contributions to culture, we will miss his generosity, clarity of vision, curiosity, rebellious spirit, and his passion for the creative process. We are honored to be among those who carry on his remarkable legacy, which will continue to guide the Institute indefinitely.”

      In addition to founding the festival, Redford held the position of president at the Sundance Institute.

      Background on Robert Redford and Sundance

      Sundance began in 1978, towards the end of a decade during which Redford dominated the screen with films like All the President’s Men, The Candidate, and The Way We Were.

      Initially named the Utah/US Film Festival, it was created to bring more films to Utah, founded by Sterling Van Wagenen, who led Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises Inc., along with the Utah Film Commission. The first festival featured films such as Midnight Cowboy, The Sweet Smell of Success, and Mean Streets.

      In 1981, the festival relocated to Park City, Utah, and changed its dates from September to January, which remains its scheduling month. It was renamed the Sundance Film Festival in 1991, in tribute to one of Redford’s most iconic films, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid from 1969.

      Sundance has become one of the most esteemed festivals, recognized for helping independent filmmakers enter the mainstream and providing early looks at significant awards contenders, often long before they hit theaters.

      Last year, it announced plans to move to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.

      “I established the Sundance Institute with a commitment to discovering and nurturing independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival as the platform for stories that help expand audiences and broaden the landscape,” Redford remarked at the time.

      “That mission is even more essential today and will continue to be our foundational principle. I am deeply grateful to Park City, the state of Utah, and everyone in the Utah community who has contributed to building this organization.”

      Main image: Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid and Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy in a promotional image for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 20th Century Fox.