Redford defends his film festival

PARK CITY — For a guy who supposedly didn't have much to say, Robert Redford did a good deal of talking Thursday night — especially in defense of his beloved Sundance Film Festival.

Offering the opening remarks of the 2004 edition of the independent-film showcase, Redford sounded an awful lot like he was firing back at author Peter Biskind, whose just-published book, "Down and Dirty Pictures," is critical of both the festival and of Redford.

Redford reportedly was going to remain mum on the subject, but that turned out to not exactly be the case.

"Our results speak for themselves," he said succinctly, using the podium on the stage of Park City's Eccles Center for the Performing Arts in Park City as a pulpit of sorts.

He said the festival "is, always was and always will be a festival for filmmakers," answering Biskind's claims that the Sundance has become, in essence, a supplier of product for studios rather than a supporter of independent filmmakers.

Redford then joked that later on he would be "attending a book signing with (Miramax Films chief) Harvey Weinstein," another person Biskind criticizes in the new book.

However, the normally soft-spoken Sundance Kid returned to his soft-spoken ways when it came to the subject of the festival's opening-night feature, "Riding Giants," a documentary profile of three generations of big-wave surfers.

"On a very personal note, this is a film that I'm very excited about. It's about people who do what they do for the thrill of it," he said, equating the film's surf legends to Sundance's artistic-minded filmmakers.

Festival director Geoff Gilmore echoed Redford's sentiments, saying he was excited to see "what a 90-foot wave will look like on this big screen," gesturing to the Eccles Center's full-sized movie screen.

Gilmore also introduced the film's director, former skateboarding legend Stacy Peralta, who called Sundance "the greatest place on Earth for filmmakers" and exhorted the crowd to "hoot it up" during his feature, which was warmly received.

After two screenings of the film, the festivities headed up to the Deer Valley resort for a gala party that featured "Rat Pack"-style entertainment, including '50s-period music.

The screening and gala Thursday night were the kickoff for 10 days of parties, symposiums and especially movies — 137 feature-length films and 88 short works. The majority of screenings will be held in a variety of Park City and Salt Lake City locations.