Subscribe to RSS FeedThe Ever Popular Sundance Film Festival Celebrates Innovation
Today the Sundance Film Festival tends to evoke images of A-list actors and paparazzi. But its origins are far humbler. Initially a lab for low-budget filmmakers, Sundance has become the largest independent film festival in the U.S. Every January filmmakers from around the world travel to Utah to have their often-innovative work showcased.
Founded in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival, it was intended to attract film production to the state. At the time, it was one of only two such events in the country that celebrated independent filmmaking. Through its association with Robert Redford, the event-s initial chairman, the festival was able to attract interest from Hollywood.
The name was changed to the Sundance Film Festival in 1991, and is managed by the Sundance Institute. Each year thousands of films of all types are placed into competition, many of which receive distribution deals. Distributors at the 2011 Festival chose approximately 45 films, a 220 jump over the previous year.
Sundance is also known for propelling the careers of independent films and filmmakers. Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino are among those who have benefitted from the Festival. Their innovative films “Reservoir Dogs’ and “sex, lies, and videotape’ respectively, helped establish their reputations in Hollywood.