The Sundance Film Festival opens today and thousands of film fans flock to the small Utah town to watch movies that hope to be the next big breakout. The Huffington Post spoke to Sundance founder Robert Redford on Jan. 17 and the legendary filmmaker said that he misses the days where he could just join in and watch the films.
"What I would like most to do is just to see the films, but because of all the people coming now, it obligates me to do the meet and greet, when what I would love most is to be with the filmmakers and see their work," Redford said.
Of course, Redford is not complaining about his festival's success.
Robert Rodriguez broke out thanks to Sundance with "Machete." Quentin Tarantino broke out when he put together his debut film "Reservoir Dogs" at the Sundance Institute. Edward Burns impressed Redford and he received his breakout with "The Brothers McMullen."
One of this year's Oscar nominees, "Beasts of the Southern Wild," premiered in 2012 at Sundance.
This is what young hopeful filmmakers all over the world hope to see when they send their DVD in and hope that Sundance screens their prized work of art.
"That's why we're here," Redford said. "When somebody comes out of nowhere and with our support goes somewhere, that's a real pleasure to me."
This year fans will get a chance to see "Manhunt," a true-life movie about the CIA operative from "Zero Dark Thirty." The Steve Jobs biopic "jOBS" also premieres, with Ashton Kutcher starring as the brilliant programmer. "Kill Your Darlings" stars Harry Potter star Danielle Radcliffe as a young Allen Ginsberg.
These movies and more will compete to become the next breakout film, and one might even hope to follow in the footsteps of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and pick up awards nominations next year.
The Sundance Film Festival runs from Jan. 17-27.
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Shawn S. Lealos is a member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, the professional film critics’ organization of Oklahoma. He is also working on a book about the Stephen King dollar babies called “Dollar Deal.” To read more of his writing, visit shawnlealos.net.
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