Robert Redford, the cinema star, trailblazer for independent film and the brains behind Sundance Film Festival, will be honored by Salt Lake Film Society with a monthlong retrospective honoring his renowned acting career.
Redford died at his home at his Sundance retreat in the mountains outside of Provo on the morning of Sept. 18. He was 89.
The retrospective, “Redford Remembered,” will celebrate the late actor’s life and film work, as well as his enduring impact on Utah’s film scene, by screening the most highly acclaimed movies of his career.
“Robert Redford’s artistry shaped generations of cinema-goers, both through his legendary acting roles and his visionary leadership as founder of Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival,” said Tori A. Baker, president and CEO of SLFS.
“With ‘Redford Remembered,’ we’re celebrating the timeless power of his performances and the indelible mark he has left on American film and culture.”
From Nov. 2 through Nov. 27, the retrospective program will screen 12 of Redford’s movies at Broadway Centre Cinemas in Salt Lake City.
“As Utah’s most celebrated film figure, Redford has long been recognized for his contributions to both the art and industry of cinema,” a press release for the event reads. “‘Redford Remembered’ offers audiences a rare chance to experience his iconic roles as they were meant to be seen — on the big screen, in community with fellow film lovers."
The following 12 Redford films have been selected by Salt Lake Film Society for the tribute screenings.
‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)
‘Downhill Racer’ (1969)
‘Jeremiah Johnson’ (1972)
‘The Candidate’ (1972)
‘The Sting’ (1973)
‘The Way We Were’ (1973)
‘The Great Gatsby’ (1974)
‘The Great Waldo Pepper’ (1975)
‘All The President’s Men’ (1976)
‘The Electric Horseman’ (1979)
‘The Natural’ (1984)
‘All is Lost’ (2013)
Utah leaders pay tribute to Redford
Following his death, Utah leaders paid tribute to Redford for his contributions to the Beehive State, particularly bringing his vision for independent film and advocating for the environment.
Gov. Spencer Cox honored Redford for playing a role in making “Utah a home for storytelling and creativity,” he wrote in a statement.
“Through Sundance and his devotion to conservation, he shared Utah with the world,” Cox added.
Utah Sen. John Curtis said he felt a “deep sense of gratitude for the life and legacy of Robert Redford.”
“His vision with Sundance and his dedication to preserving the beauty of Utah’s outdoors have touched every corner of our state,” Curtis wrote in a statement. “Through the Sundance Film Festival, he not only elevated Utah on the world stage but also inspired us to see the power of art, storytelling, and nature.”
Sundance film fest will also honor Redford
Sundance Film Festival also has a tribute to Redford in the works, festival officials told the Deseret News in July, prior to his death.
After hosting the event in Utah for more than 40 years, Sundance Film Festival is coming up on its last tour in Park City before relocating to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027.
Despite Sundance’s upcoming move, the festival’s director, Eugene Hernandez, is determined to keep Utah ingrained in the festival’s history moving forward.
“Even though the festival is moving on, we’re still rooted here,” Hernandez recently told the Deseret News. “Sundance’s roots are here in Utah.”
Plans are already in motion to honor Redford’s vision for independent storytelling throughout the final festival in Utah this January.
“We want to take the opportunity to honor and salute and celebrate the legacy of the festival in Utah,” Hernandez recently told the Deseret News. “It really all goes back to that founding vision that comes from Robert Redford. It created a new energy for and vitality for independent filmmaking in this country and across the world.”
Redford remained involved in the festival until his death. Even after stepping down as the public face of the festival in 2019, Redford continued his role as founder and president of the festival for the remainder of his life.
“Mr. Redford shared with us recently this notion that everyone has a story,” Hernandez said. “To me, it’s a really powerful statement, because it’s not just the stories that we will share on screen. Everybody attending, we all have our own stories, our own stories of the Sundance Film Festival and what it’s meant to us. … You’ll see that there will be ways to honor and celebrate that throughout the festival this year.”
Tickets for ‘Redford Remembered’
Tickets for ‘Redford Remembered’ will soon be available at slfstix.org.