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Carole Mikita ReportingRobert Redford says his Sundance Film Festival has moved into adulthood and, more than ever, has a voice for everyone. Arguably one of the top film festivals in the world, Sundance kicked off last night in Park City with a welcome from its host. Redford talked about everything from politics to what he's most pleased about at this year's event.
Robert Redford, Sundance Film Festival Founder: "What Sundance, as most of you who've been through it know, is that it's really a festival about different voices in film that really reflect, maybe a little more accurately, the world that we live in."
Robert Redford's vision 21 years ago was to provide a showcase for people who had a story to tell, but very little money with which to do it. As he welcomed last night's crowd, he knew what he had hoped for has succeeded beyond his and his team's imaginations, providing a platform for many voices.
Robert Redford: "I found it pretty offensive that we had to live through seeing our country being reduced to red states and blue states and whatever comes with that. Sundance really stands to resist that."
The focus this year is a new competition of international films. New World Cinema includes 42 movies from 30 countries in 23 languages. "On A Clear Day" comes from Great Britain. Frank is 55, has just been laid off from his job in the Glasgow shipyards and decides it's sink or swim, so why not the English Channel?
Peter Mullen, "On A Clear Day": “It’s a guy facing up to his demons in his life and tryin’ as best he can to come to terms with it.”
Billy Boyd, who you know from "Lord of the Rings”, plays Danny, one of the pals.
Billy Boyd, "On A Clear Day" "It's all these weird characters that all seem to get along and have this really cool group dynamic."
'On A Clear Day' premiers at Abravanel Hall tonight. We'll bring you the star-studded event on Eyewitness News at 10:00. The festival runs through January 30th, with screenings in Salt Lake, Ogden and Park City, also at Sundance Resort.
