Sundance Film Festival

The biggest annual festival of independent films.

For the first time, it was held in September 1978, under the name of Utah/Us Film Festival, and was ment to attract as many artists as possible to Utah.

One of the factors which led the to development of this festiwal is a a commitment of Robert Retford, whose name managed to attract the attention of a huge number of people.

The largest independent film festival in the United States. It comprises competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary film, both feature films and short films and a group of out-of-competition sections, including NEXT, New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight, Premieres and Documentary Premieres. 

History of Sundance Film Festival in brief: 

•  It was founded by Sterling Van Wagene, John Earle, and Cirina Hampton Catania. 

•  The goal of the festival was to showcase  American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film, and to increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah.

• The main focus of the event was to conduct a competition for independent American films.

•  In 1979, Sterling Van Wagenen left to head up the first-year pilot program of what was to become the Sundance Institute.

• More than 60 films were screened at the festival that year, and panels featured many well-known Hollywood filmmakers. 

• Several factors increased the growth of Utah/US Film Festival - the involvement of actor and Utah resident Robert Redford, the common hunger for more venues that would celebrate American-made films.

• In 1981, the festival moved to Park City, Utah, and changed the dates from September to January. 

TASK: find out what the Sundance Institute is and write about its main goals.