Robert Redford launches his celebrated Sundance Film Festival in London today — and promised to make it a fixture here if audiences “love what we do”.
The Oscar-winning actor flew in to open the first international offshoot of his long-running event, which champions new talent, at the O2.
Redford, 75, told the Standard he was “not going to presume” that Sundance London will succeed.
“But we will start small and just see how it goes,” he said. “If it works and people love what we do, we will come back.”
His aim is to bring new and experimental work to as many people as possible — though the inaugural London programme will include just a snapshot of 14 films from this year’s main event in Utah.
“Sundance London has the same purpose as Sundance, which brings audiences from around the US to see films they won’t get a chance to see because the mainstream might not include them,” he said.
“These are new artists with new points of view. And sometimes, with all the vitriol and hyperbole going on at a national level, it’s particularly nice to have cultural exchange.”
Sources close to the star said they were “very committed” to London and wanted to hear what audiences had to say to make the festival work.
US ambassador Louis Susman last night hosted a reception at his embassy, during which he hailed Sundance’s maverick spirit as a “perfect fit” for London.
Mr Susman said he had observed the “vibrant independent film and music industry” in Britain — and Sundance London was a logical extension in honouring independent films in an industry dominated by commercial interests.
He went on: “Sundance captured the true spirit of America by championing the characteristics essential to the American culture — creativity, inspiration, ingenuity and risk-taking.
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“If no one was prepared to take a chance on art like Robert Redford does, then everything would be mediocre. I know this will be a great success.”
Reception guest Sir Ben Kingsley, who worked with Redford on the movie Sneakers, said Sundance “has many replications but none of them have quite got Bob’s essence”.
The London festival, which runs until Sunday, includes singer Paul Simon talking today about his new film, Under African Skies.
Minnie Driver, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Placebo, Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird are all appearing and Prince Charles will introduce a film about his environmental work.
