The Sundance Film Festival for the 2019 opened with the usual Thursday afternoon press conference at the Egyptian Theatre.
But the traditional event was also about change. It included less of a role for Sundance Founder Robert Redford, who only appeared briefly to introduce the gathering. And festival programmers talked about how this year’s films reflected the social and political winds blowing in the world.
Redford opened the event by thanking the press who showed up, and he commended the army of Festival volunteers.
But in his brief remarks, he talked about how long he’s been doing the annual welcome and seemed to be saying good-bye.
“Having done this for 34 years now since the festival started, I think we’re at a point where I can move on to a different place." Redford said, "Because the thing I’ve missed over the years is being able to spend time with the films and with the filmmakers and to see their work and enjoy their work and be part of their community. I’ve been sort of spending a lot of time introducing everything, but I don’t the festival needs a whole lot of introduction now. I think it kind of runs on its own course and I’m happy for this.”
Another major change is that the bulk of the press briefing featured festival director John Cooper, with five of his senior programmers, who took written questions from journalists.
Cooper said that in the current political and social climate, the festival still matters.
“I think that this festival is more relevant in divided times than ever." Cooper continued, "I think the voices that come to the forefront of this festival are important. I think it helps create the cultural landscape of this year. It’s what we witness and now we get to turn over to our audiences which is really exciting. We don’t have the government guided, ministry of culture, point of view of what we’re supposed to be doing. We let our artists really guide this.”
Talking about documentary films, Senior programmer David Courier said that the current zeitgeist is scare in many ways. But he said it’s a time of rising and resistance, and non-fiction filmmakers are emboldened.
“The biggest topics of this year are I would say the importance of journalism to get the truth out there." Courier explained, "No where in our history has journalism been battered more than it’s being battered right now. We’ve got some really great films that speak to that and it’s a scary time across the globe with the rise of the right. It’s a global rise of nationalism that’s being embraced by our own country, certain members of our own country which is really scary. Filmmakers you could feel them becoming incensed and creating documentaries that aren’t necessarily on the nose about it but speak to that topic in a big way.”
Courier said that some of the docs in that direction include “Knock Down the House”, Edge of Democracy”, “The Great Hack” and “Hail Satan.”
The Festival’s theme this year is “Risk Independence”. Sundance Institute Director Keri Putnam said risk is part of life for documentary makers.
“Documentarians in particular risk being jailed and even risk their lives for sharing their truths." Putnam said, "Those numbers around the world are at an all time high. There’re also political risks. We’re featuring work from several artists who nearly didn’t get visas to travel to Sundance this year. With the help of some incredible pro-bono lawyers most of them made it through, but two from Muslim banned countries did not and even two is too many. Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan and Iranian filmmaker Arman Fayaz will not be here with us but their work will be here. Their voices will be here.”
She said that the festival is a public square for independent artists—even in an age of commercial product and streaming.
“While we recognize that this sort of public square is in short supply right now." Putnam continued, "The consolidation of commercial media, the click optimization of the digital landscape, that means that stories, content and information are being distributed with an eye on views and clicks rather than depth and risk. It’s commerce, not purpose that’s driving most story-telling which of course is fine as far as it goes but its dangerous when there’s few alternatives. This leads to the most shallow and sensational content being prioritized. The commercial media environment devalues independent media and we’re here to revalue it.”
Finally, Cooper asked his staff to sum up, in one word, the message being sent out by this year’s films.
“Fearless” “Emboldened” “Provocative, Unflinching” “Perspective” “Real” They said,
“I think sometimes for me even as weird as it is to say, optimistic. There’s something when stories are getting out and their deep it’s optimistic even if it feels troubled out there it’s better.”
“To have your voice heard is a pretty optimistic thing.”
