Filmmakers and actors gathered Friday night at Sundance’s annual fundraising gala to honor Robert Redford, whose Sundance Institute helped turn a mountain resort in Utah into a launchpad for independent American film. The event doubled as a marker for a festival in transition: the 2026 edition is Sundance’s last scheduled year in Utah before the festival relocates to Boulder, Colorado.
Redford’s daughter, Amy Redford, told the room her father chose to build “a nest” rather than “an empire,” describing an institution meant to “support and protect and nourish and then set free.” She said the work he valued most—Sundance’s lab programs—will remain based in Utah even after the festival move.
Speakers tied Redford’s legacy to direct, hands-on mentorship. Director Nia DaCosta recalled seeing him ride a motorcycle on wooded paths and stop to talk with fellows about their projects, insisting they call him “Bob.” Actor Ethan Hawke described auditioning for Redford early in his career and said Redford’s encouragement shaped his path; he promised to “keep the fire that he started burning.”
Ava DuVernay, who broke through at Sundance with “Middle of Nowhere,” said Redford modeled “a way to be” that treated artists as essential and argued that “imagination is worth protecting.” Organizers also used the night to highlight the institute’s awards slate: Chloé Zhao received the Trailblazer Award, while Geeta Gandbhir and DaCosta received Vanguard Awards. The institute has also created a new Robert Redford Luminary Award, with Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag named as the inaugural honorees.
The tribute ran through the festival itself. Screenings have played a short video remembrance of Redford, and organizers scheduled a screening of “Downhill Racer,” one of his earliest independent projects, as the program continues through Feb. 1.
