Redford: "The theater will not disappear"
Founded thirty years ago, the Sundance Festival, dedicated to independent film, has created television Sundance Channel. Founded by Robert Redford, it is now broadcast in North America, Asia and Europe.
LE FIGARO. – At 75, you have nothing more to prove. Why do you continue to be so involved in the project Sundance?
Robert REDFORD. – There are two answers. The first is rather personal. When undertaking a project, it grows and succeeds, he must know how to lead the way. And as we are able to do it right, we must continue the self. The second reason is that Sundance Festival began thirty years ago, confidentially, in a small mountain town in Utah. It was well received and was able to cross borders. The second step was the creation of the Sundance Channel television network, now distributed in several countries. We have the opportunity today to export the festival itself. I think this opportunity is Sundance as a whole.
Why did you choose to export the Sundance Festival London and not Paris, for example?
Just because it was London that I was offered. If Paris had done, I immediately agreed. I am very attached to this city where I started my career, and France has played a big role in my story to film. It is astonishing that Paris does not have its own film festival. International in scope, there is always that of Cannes today. In addition, Sundance has long been a festival of American independent cinema where we showed films and documentaries mainly American. Gradually, Sundance opened and has become a multi-cultural exchange. This new festival in London, which took place last weekend, is the opportunity to highlight this aspect of trading. These are no longer limited to the movies, since Sundance London includes other art forms like music.
Is television, you think more creatively than the cinema?
The major studios have been major developments in recent years, mainly due to the arrival of a new generation of managers. With them is a different perception of this profession that has taken over. Leaders of the studios no longer had the eyes on the working capital. They mainly favored the financial aspect of production. This resulted in a dwindling production with a focus on blockbusters, but also those who worked on the films. And many talents who worked for the film were left out. They were found on television that works faster, more flexibly, but also who pays very well. This is where they have exercised their creativity, successfully.
Is there still a place for independent film?
The defense is my mission. Of course it is very difficult. And it is clear that there is less and less money to make films of this type. When we launched Sundance, the challenge was even more complicated and this independent film was even more difficult today. But I think there is still a place for independent film, and a public taste which manifests itself to this type of production, as evidenced by the success of the festival itself and the chain.
How do you imagine that the film will be consumed in five or ten years?
I do not believe for one moment that the rooms will disappear because new technologies. People will always need to come together to share the things they like and the film calls this type of collective sharing. I am also convinced that the room will continue and that the public will always wish to navigate to enjoy movies. I do not believe that eventually people will just watch a movie alone on a tiny screen. This does not make sense.
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