The Sundance Movies People Will Be Talking About for the Rest of 2019

PARK CITY, Utah—Every year since the Sundance Film Festival began, in 1985, the founder and figurehead, Robert Redford, has kicked off the event with a discussion of the featured movies and the state of independent cinema. Named after one of Redford’s most iconic characters, the annual Utah gathering was designed to foster filmmaking talent outside the studio system. But this year, Redford made something clear: He no longer needs to be in the spotlight. After a brief introduction, he stepped aside at the opening press conference. “I think we’re at a point where I can move on to a different place,” he said, ceding the stage to the executive director, Keri Putnam.

Sundance has debuted films from some of indie cinema’s most prominent voices over the past 30-plus years, including Steven Soderbergh, the Coen brothers, Todd Haynes, and recent Grand Jury Prize winners such as Damien Chazelle and Ryan Coogler. But in stepping back, Redford is acknowledging the welcome ways of the accredited press come from “underrepresented groups,” Putnam said.