Sundance Film Festival leaders committed to 'new, fresh voices'

PARK CITY — The Sundance Film Festival is maintaining its commitment to showing the work of "new, fresh voices," said festival leader Robert Redford.

The 2010 edition of the Sundance Film Festival kicked off with an opening day press conference at the Egyptian Theatre, and both Redford and new festival director John Cooper fielded questions from members of the press.

The questions ranged from Redford's level of involvement with the festival to a debate about whether Sundance is still as meaningful as it was when it began more than 20 years ago.

Widely regarded as the premiere showcase for independent and world cinema in the United States, the festival in its earlier years introduced the works of such film artists as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Kevin Smith, Jared Hess and Kimberly Pearce.

Sundance 2010 has the unofficial theme of "Sundance Returned," which, according to Redford, means the fest is returning to its independent roots.

Cooper jokingly referred to this year's festival programming as a "big bath of argument," though he and Redford also hailed documentary filmmaking as "a vital component of the truth."

"There are opportunities for documentaries to make headway into areas that are being vacated by our dwindling news media," Redford said, adding that he originally believed the so-called "little fest that could" wouldn't last longer than 10 years.

Instead, it has thrived and gotten bigger, though Redford said he worried about the events "becoming stagnant."

He also noted the festival has never shied away from controversy.

Or, as he said, "We just show the films," noting that he and other Sundance officials have never taken official positions on the content or issues discussed in some of the festivals more adventurous movie selections.

That includes "8: The Mormon Proposition," an already hotly debated documentary about gay rights.

(The film is not in competition but is being shown in the festival's "Spotlight" section.)

Redford also praised Cooper, who has served as Sundance's programming chief for years. Cooper steps into the shoes previously occupied by Geoff Gilmore, who left the festival earlier this year to pursue an opportunity with New York's Tribeca media group and accompanying film festival.

Consequently, Redford and Cooper both praised the festival's increasing emphasis on world cinema and documentaries.