‘It’s something that has affected us deeply’: Sundance leaders speak about California wildfires

“It’s something that has affected us deeply,” said Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez about the wildfires burning in Los Angeles. “It’s affected our staff, it’s affected our artists, and filmmakers who are coming to the festival”.

During Sundance Film Festival’s opening press reception Wednesday evening, Hernandez and the festival’s acting CEO Amanda Kelso spoke about the wildfires in the Los Angeles area and how those involved in the festival have been affected by the fires.

“This tragedy continues right now, and we stand with all of our friends and colleagues in this tragic moment, and at the same time, we come together tonight and in these coming days to continue looking ahead.”

—  Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez

Hernandez shared that many involved in the festival have been impacted by the fires, and that these people wanted to festival to go forward. He emphasized that this festival brings this group together and gives them a sense of renewal and community.

Festival leaders have worked to provide resources for those affected by the fires, and to provide a place for others to donate to help those impacted.

“What’s amazing is how we can come together,” Kelso said. “This is almost a moment of healing for us, it’s an opportunity for us to remind ourselves of why it is important for us to be together.”

Going forward with the film festival as the fires burn on in California

Kelso and Hernandez both spoke about the decision to go forward with Sundance, as the devastating wildfires started just weeks before the beginning of the festival. “First and foremost, the most important thing to me was to make sure that everyone was safe and felt like they had their focus and their well being and their family and all of that,” Kelso said, adding that they worked with every single team member who was impacted by the fires.

Hernandez said that every person he spoke to about the festival continuing in the wake of the tragedy said they were happy and relieved to have the festival happening.

“We have approached it very mindfully and thoughtfully in terms of just understanding and serving our community consistently and continually, to understand their needs,” Hernandez said. “But we’re committed to it and and we’ll just keep folks who are still impacted in our minds.”

Sundance Film Festival provides resources for those affected by the California wildfires

The leadership of the festival and others involved have worked to help those who have been impacted by the fires and give them the help and space they need to move forward.

“We’ve been trying to think about how we can support folks in our community, so providing direct resources from corporate partners or other folks who have donated clothing, or places for people to stay, or other resources,” Hernandez said.

The film festival has created a web page which provides places for people to donate to help those affected by the fires. The page also lists places where those affected by the fires can find resources, such as mental health support and warm clothing.

Before each of the films at the festival a QR code will come on the screen leading people to the web page.

“There’s a variety of resources that we provide, but ultimately, it’s also about giving people the space that they need in order to focus on the things that matter, not asking people to like focus on the festival if their mind is somewhere else,” Kelso said.

She added that many of the people involved in the festival have said the festival gives them purpose and meaning in the wake of the tragic fires.

“This tragedy continues right now, and we stand with all of our friends and colleagues in this tragic moment, and at the same time, we come together tonight and in these coming days to continue looking ahead,” Hernandez said.