The global film industry is paying tribute to Robert Redford, the founder of Sundance Film Festival, Hollywood star, and Oscar-winning director
The global film industry is paying tribute to Robert Redford, the founder of Sundance Film Festival, Hollywood star, and Oscar-winning director who has died aged 89.
Sundance Institute said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford. Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the U.S. and around the world.
“Beyond his enormous contributions to culture at large, we will miss his generosity, clarity of purpose, curiosity, rebellious spirit, and his love for the creative process. We are humbled to be among the stewards of his remarkable legacy, which will continue to guide the Institute in perpetuity.”
In a statement to press, Jane Fonda, a lifelong friend who starred alongside Redford in several films including Barefoot In The Park and The Electric Horseman, said. “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”
Writing on Instagram, Barbra Streisand said: ”Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exhilarating, intense and pure joy. We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie. Bob was charismatic, smart, intense, always intriguing— and one of the finest actors ever. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.”
France’s culture minister Rachida Dati called Redford “a giant of American cinema, with his own unique vision, and a friend of France, where he found inspiration”, and cited Redford’s years honing his creativity as an art student at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Dati said Sundance was “one of the most influential springboards for independent cinema”, adding: “Through it, Redford brought forth a new generation of filmmakers and helped redefine the contours of a bold and committed American cinema, in his own image.”
Cannes Film Festival took to social media to write: “Redford was more than a myth: he was a model […] Forever the cowboy, the fugitive, the candidate, the prisoner, the Great Gatsby, the con man, the student, the playboy, the loner, the cryptographer, the soldier, the reporter, the rodeo champion, the lover, the baseball star, the sailor, the man who whispered to horses… Over 70 roles, 9 films as a director, the creation of the Sundance Film Festival. And throughout a life devoted to cinema, an elegance unmatched — in his artistry, his commitments, and his fights.”
Producer Anthony Bregman of Likely Story has been a Sundance mainstay over the years with films like Flora And Son, Eileen, Our Idiot Brother, and Sing Street. He told Screen: ”I only ever met [Redford] in passing, never had a deep conversation with him, but was he my mentor: my entire career as a producer is thickly interwoven with the Sundance Institute and the festival that he built. And with the brilliant and committed people he brought in to run those institutions, to guide us and support us when we started out, and to provide us with a tribe when we got our own momentum. It’s almost impossible to imagine where this business would be without Sundance’s influence, where any of us would be. Close your eyes and try to picture it — I certainly can’t.”
Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, said: ”In addition to being a titanic acting and directing talent, as an early board member of the Sundance Institute, I saw first-hand the Sundance Kid’s passionate commitment to indie film and newborn artists. Robert Redford truly gave back. The entire scope of American film would have been much poorer without him. An amazing legacy of an amazing man.”
Toronto International Film Festival said in a statement: “TIFF is saddened to learn of the passing of Robert Redford, a legendary actor, director, and passionate champion of independent film. From his iconic performances in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All The President’s Men, to his visionary work behind the camera like Ordinary People and his founding of the Sundance Institute and Film Festival, Redford transformed cinema and created space for generations of storytellers to share their voices. TIFF has been honoured to showcase his work over the years, including the premiere of The Old Man & The Gun (TIFF ’18), his final acting role, and we celebrate the indelible mark he leaves on the art form we love. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the film community as we mourn the loss of a true pioneer.”
Martin Scorsese said in a statement: ”When Robert Redford offered me a role in Quiz Show, I was immediately intrigued and I accepted. Bob had a great sensitivity as a director, quite unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish.” Citing Redford’s screen roles in The Candidate and The Great Gatsby and collaborations with Paul Newman and Sydney Pollack, he added: ”Bob was a unique artist, in front of and behind the camera. He was also a dedicated member of The Film Foundation board, and he gave the world of American cinema something irreplaceable and lasting with Sundance.”
Meryl Streep, who starred opposite Redford in the 1985 romance Out Of Africa, said: “One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend.”
Patrick Wachsberger, the Oscar-winning producer of CODA, which premiered at Sundance in 2021, told Screen: “The world and our industry has lost an inspiring visionary who spent a lifetime shining a spotlight on independent filmmaking. Mr. Redford paved the way for producers like me to make independent films like CODA and I will forever be grateful.”
Figures from the world of film took to X to express their condolences and post tributes.
Morgan Freeman said: “There are certain people you know that you’re going to click with. After working with Robert Redfoed on Brubaker in 1980, we instantly became friends. Working with him again in An Unfinished Life was a dream come true. Rest peacefully, my friend.”
“#RIP & thank you Robert Redford” wrote Ron Howard, adding that Redford was “a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor/producer/director & for launching the Sundance Film festival which supercharged America’s Independent Film movement. Artistic Gamechanger!”.
Marlee Matlin starred in CODA and wrote: “Our film, CODA, came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance. And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed. RIP Robert.”
Independent Film & Television Alliance provided a statement to Screen that read: ”Robert Redford’s legacy is defined by his unwavering advocacy for imaginative freedom and his courage to push the boundaries of storytelling. He gave voice to bold ideas and inspired generations of artists to reimagine what cinema could be and what audiences wanted. We extend our deepest respect and wish the Sundance Institute the very best in carrying this torch forward.”
Rebecca Leffler contributed to this report.
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