Redford plans movie theaters

PROVO — Actor and businessman Robert Redford's Sundance Group will launch a new movie theater circuit.

Paul Richardson has been named president and CEO of the new Sundance Cinemas, while Bert Manzari assumes the position of president of film and marketing.

The theaters will show independent, documentary and foreign language films, along with studio films and original programming, shorts, filmmaker interviews and forums.

"Anything that helps new and interesting voices in the cultural realm reach more people can only enrich the experience of artists, audiences and communities and this makes the effort worth it," Redford said.

The management team, which has worked together since 1975, is looking for theater locations throughout the country, Richardson said.

Richardson and Manzari started a specialized exhibition circuit with one theatre in 1975. Their circuit merged with Landmark Theatres in 1982. They left Landmark with the last change in ownership last year.

Oaktree Capital Management of Los Angeles, a private investment group, will finance Sundance Cinemas with investor funds.

Redford established the Sundance Group in 1988 to oversee his businesses, which include Sundance Village, Sundance Catalog, Sundance Channel, and his involvement in the not-for-profit Sundance Institute, Sundance Film Festival and North Fork Preservation Alliance.