The Sundance Film Festival bids an emotional farewell to Park City, Utah, as it prepares to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, next year. At the festival’s opening presser, Amy Redford, daughter of festival founder Robert Redford, reflected on the deep connection between her father, the festival, and its longtime home, expressing gratitude and poignant memories during this landmark edition.
Amy Redford honors her father and Sundance’s roots
Speaking at the event, Amy Redford quoted her father’s frequent saying,
“Those were words out of my dad’s mouth on more than one occasion,”
highlighting the central theme of storytelling that has defined Sundance. She paid tribute not only to Robert Redford’s vision but also to Park City, calling it
“the portal to so many stories to set free in the rest of the world.”
Her remarks underscored the festival’s role in bringing countless narratives to a wider audience.
The significance of Park City to Sundance’s identity
Amy Redford emphasized Park City’s unique role in the festival’s history, inviting attendees to appreciate the location’s character and people. She said,
“Every place has a story, so let’s talk about this extraordinary place: Park City, UT,”
and reminded those present,
“I invite you to look out and up when you can, these mountains have a funny way of adding perspective.”
She stressed that
“Utah is the bedrock that allowed us to build,”
and praised the town for
“lending their town to this crazy idea,”
referring to the creation of the Sundance Film Festival itself.
Appreciating Park City’s community and history
Amy also encouraged the audience to observe the people around them during their time in Park City, saying,
“Maybe when you eat your meals, walk the streets, get a parking ticket — like I did this afternoon — pay attention to the people who are serving you. There might just be a lot about Utah you don’t know…”
She added,
“My Dad loved this place and its people,”
highlighting the personal bond her father shared with the community.
Looking ahead to Sundance’s new chapter in Boulder
While Sundance secures a ten-year agreement with Boulder, worth approximately $34 million in tax incentives, which will expand festival facilities including accommodations and cinemas, Amy Redford reflected on the transition with hope and realism. Speaking at the Park City venue on Iron Horse Drive, she said,
“We invite you to stay curious about this place (Park City), it too has stories.”
Addressing the move to Boulder, she noted,
“This festival has found a new iteration, that will be exciting and imperfect and might feel like our beginnings 40 years ago.”
Amy reaffirmed that Sundance’s future would be founded on her father’s core principles,
“ground[ing] our next chapter in the founding values Dad articulated on a single sheet of paper; if you’ve read them, they are simple and strong.”
Celebrating emerging filmmakers and the spirit of discovery
Throughout her remarks, Amy Redford acknowledged the many independent filmmakers who continue to shape the future of cinema:
“shivering filmmakers who you’d never heard of…who might be the next one who will change the world.”
She concluded with a reflection on her father’s passion for storytelling, stating,
“to seek the unknowns and find out who they are — it was really my Dad’s favorite part.”
Sundance Festival dates and final thoughts
The Sundance Film Festival will run from January 22 through February 1 in Park City before transitioning to its new home in Boulder. This farewell marks not just the end of an era but the beginning of a promising new chapter for the festival, rooted in its history yet open to growth and change.
