DENVER (KDVR) — On Tuesday, the family of Robert Redford announced that the Hollywood icon passed away, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 89.
Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” publicist Cindi Berger said in a statement.
His work has been heralded all over the world, whether it came in the form of acting, directing or activism. Some of his most famous projects include:
- “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)
- “The Sting” (1973)
- “All the President’s Men” (1976)
- “The Natural” (1984)
- “The Candidate” (1972)
- “Ordinary People” (1980)
Redford’s name has climbed to the tippy top of Hollywood royalty, and his films have made an international impact, but with all that mass success, Redford’s love for cinema took it back to its roots and led to one of the greatest creations for independent filmmakers in 1981.
A creation that will impact Colorado for many years to come.
Redford is the founder of the Sundance Film Festival — one of the biggest film festivals in the world that has put countless filmmakers on the map.
“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,” said the Sundance Institute in a statement on Tuesday.
The Sundance name is internationally known to people in the film community, and with the prestigious festival moving to Boulder, many Coloradans who haven’t heard of it will quickly become familiar.
Sundance isn’t the only connection Redford has to Colorado; he began his adult life here, attending the University of Colorado Boulder on a baseball scholarship, while working as a janitor at The Sink restaurant— but he eventually lost his scholarship and was kicked out of school for drinking and partying.
Some people may be bitter and hold a grudge in a situation like Redford’s, but it seems like he has never thought badly of Boulder. His children, Jamie and Shauna, both attended CU, and his brainchild ended up in Boulder, too.
It’s almost poetically ironic that his greatest creation would end up in the city where he faced his first significant failure of adulthood.
The Sundance Film Festival is moving from Park City in Utah, to Boulder in 2027, but Redford will unfortunately never see the end product after his passing. Before his death, he was looking forward to the festival’s next evolution.
“I founded the Sundance Institute with a commitment to discovering and developing independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival serving as the platform for stories to help expand audiences and broaden the landscape,” said Redford on the Sundance website. “That mission remains even more critical today and will continue to be our core principle. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization. What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. This move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk-taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Festival there.”
The relocation of the festival means hundreds of thousands of participants’ eyes will be moving to Boulder as well. In 2023 and 2024, in-person viewers numbered 86,824 and 72,940 unique viewers respectively. That population was joined by over 220,000 online viewers each year, Sundance reports.
Data analysts broke down the economic impact of the festival in 2024.
- 141,212 tickets redeemed
- 24,200 out-of-state visitors
- $106.4 million spent by out-of-state visitors
- $132 million in GDP for Utah
- 1,730 jobs for Utah residents
- $69.7 million in Utah wages
- $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue
Colorado officials have recognized the creative and economic impact of the festival moving to the state and offered nearly $70 million in incentives to move Sundance here for 10 years.
Coloradans won’t get to know the man behind the festival, with the state’s governor releasing a statement on the death of Redford.
“Robert Redford was always ahead of his time, pushing film and arts forward, revolutionizing Hollywood, advocating for our planet, and bringing joy to many. Redford was passionately committed to film, and his career in front of the camera and behind it having left a mark on all of us. He knew that film has the power to inspire, and he not only achieved great fame as an actor, but used that power for good, supporting other artists and filmmakers, including founding the Sundance Film Festival, which Colorado is proud to welcome in 2027. Robert had deep ties to Colorado, including his attendance at CU Boulder and job at The Sink. He will be missed, but his contributions will be felt for years to come and his legacy will live on,” said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement on Tuesday.
Redford’s legacy has inspired generations of filmmakers from around the world, and with the Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder, he could inspire the next generation of Colorado filmmakers, too.
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