One of the most popular and respected film festivals in the world is the Sundance Film Festival. It was the brainchild of the actor Robert Redford, who created the Sundance Institute. This is an organisation that is dedicated to promoting better artistic quality in movies. The Institute was formed in 1981 and the festival that bears its name takes place every January in Utah.
Events for the festival happen at a number of locations across the state including Ogden City and Salt Lake City. To determine which films are shown at the festival, the programming team reviews thousands of independent films made all over the world. These will be in a variety of languages and cover all genres. The aim is to find those movies that inspire and delight the viewer. Big stars appear at the event every year and thousands of people go along to see them and the movies that they have made.
Members of the public can buy tickets in advance and it only costs $20 a show. For most showings there is a Q&A with some of the cast and the director of the movie. If you miss out, you could take advantage of the online showings of some movies and projects so you can watch from the comfort of your own home.
A trip to the festival is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of film-making. There is digital centre, a music café and Sundance House. All venues carry the official Sundance newspaper and those who attend are recommended to take appropriate precautions against the weather, which is generally very cold in Utah in January. There is also a high altitude to be aware of!