Amy Redford Shares Heartfelt Memories of Her Dad and Park City as Sundance Bids Farewell in 2027
At the Sundance Film Festival’s welcome press conference, Amy Redford poignantly reflected on her father’s legacy, stating, “Everyone has a story…” This sentiment set the stage for the festival’s final edition in Park City, Utah, before its upcoming relocation to Boulder, Colorado, next year.
Redford, holding back tears, honored her Oscar-winning father, Robert Redford, and the festival itself, which she described as “the portal to so many stories to set free in the rest of the world.” She emphasized the enduring significance of Park City, urging attendees to appreciate its narrative. “Every place has a story, so let’s talk about this extraordinary place: Park City, UT,” she remarked.
“I invite you to look out and up when you can; these mountains have a funny way of adding perspective,” Redford continued. “Utah is the bedrock that allowed us to build.”
Amy Redford (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
She credited Park City for “lending their town to this crazy idea,” referring to the inception of the Sundance Film Festival. Redford encouraged attendees to engage with their surroundings: “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.”
As Sundance prepares for its transition to Boulder, taking with it a ten-year agreement valued at around $34 million in tax incentives, Redford urged journalists to remain inquisitive: “We invite you to stay curious about this place (Park City); it too has stories.”
Redford addressed the prospect of change with optimism, stating, “This festival has found a new iteration that will be exciting and imperfect and might feel like our beginnings 40 years ago. We will ground 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.”
She also acknowledged the emerging filmmakers, saying, “to seek the unknowns and find out who they are — it was really my Dad’s favorite part.”
The Sundance Film Festival is set to run from January 22 through February 1.
