Redford refuses to be drawn into Oscars controversy

“We sense that an independent film evolution is happening and we see that in three ways: depth of storytelling, thorough understanding of craft and experimenting in genre”, said festival director John Cooper. These moviemakers, who might otherwise be closed out of the process, can prevail by making films cheaper, with smaller, less expensive cameras and software that lets them edit at home.

Film lovers, critics, movie producers and actors will gather in Park City, Utah, on January 21 for 2016’s Sundance Film Festival.

Perhaps it wasn’t the topic, but the way the reporter framed the question – would Redford care to compare Sundance’s exemplary diversity record to the Academy’s? – that rubbed him the wrong way.

“More and more people came, I realized that audiences were coming up here, of all places, I mean, Utah”, Redford said.

“The most important thing is the story”, he added later. I feel like I grew up here, made so many friends here, saw so many of my favorite films here. These films were selected from 12,793 submissions, including 4,081 feature-length films and 8,712 short films. And this year, there are also a few films about political figures.

For those wanting even more, Sundance will screen Linklater’s 1993 hit Dazed and Confused, with commentary by Linklater and acclaimed director Jason Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno).

This year’s lineup offers an array of films and documentaries that deal with timely issues such as USA gun violence and abortion. Their films will soon launch onto the global stage, beginning their journeys through our culture.

The line-up of foreign films includes Halal Love (And Sex), which pokes fun at the “complicated balancing act of romantic desire and religious devotion inthe Muslim world”, and raunchy Indian comedy Brahman Naman, about a trio of nerdy college students bent on losing their virginity on a trip to Kolkata.

Under the Gun: The documentary scene is often vibrant at Sundance, and this year appears to be no exception. “(When) there wasn’t enough ethnic filmmaking to be shown, we had (Robert) Townsend come in, and we had women filmmakers who weren’t getting in (the door) like Lisa Choldenko, Kelly Reichardt”, he said. Todd Solondz debuts another oddity with Wiener-Dog, featuring Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito, Ellen Burstyn, and Zosia Mamet, among others. Expect this to be a howling success.

The festival’s documentary slate continues to expand.

Sundance has always been used as a spotlight for the underdogs.. This year, Anderson Cooper, artist Robert Mapplethorpe, director Mike Nichols, and Norman Lear are featured. Houstonian art lovers might recall Cai’s monumental work at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2010.

He’s not a fan of virtual reality yet and still loves the theater experience..

While the Academy Awards – the supposed authority on all that is good and right in mostly Western film – are over yonder stubbornly remaining mostly White, male, straight and exclusive, it looks like the cinematic powerhouse that is the Sundance Film Festival is continuing its efforts to give filmmakers of all backgrounds a chance to showcase their work to a wide, influential audience. Director Nicolette Krebitz is best known as an actress (Bandits, High Maintenance), but this project, which she also wrote, sounds too interesting to pass up.

Held during Sundance, from January 22 to 28, Slamdance presents narrative and documentary features in competition and special screenings. You can count on running into famous faces at Park City supemarkets, restaurants and the local Starbucks.

At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Samsung, in collaboration with Skybound Entertainment and Wevr, will unveil the latest cluster of episodes from Samsung’s original thriller “GONE”.

Redford did an unusual thing towards the end of the press conference.

Music has always been a big part of Sundance. I will confess that this festival changes me every year.