photo by: Stephen Speckman, courtesy of Sundance

Itโ€™s common for many Utahns who disagree with 81-year-old Robert Redfordโ€™s environmentalism and love of the land to cast him as an L.A. carpetbagging dilettante. But after 50 years living in Utah County and 30 years supporting one of the worldโ€™s great film festivals, even the most conservative lawmaker must accept Bob as a bona fide Utahnโ€”even if he takes radical political stands like supporting the controversial Bears Ears National Monument in its full size. Itโ€™s hard to ignore the annual $140 million Sundance brings in.

Even by Hollywood standards, Redford is the original artist-activist who ignores the rules. He still makes movies, some good, All is Lost; some not so great, Our Souls at Night. But he remains the hard-working influencer and bridge for indie films to Hollywood.

On Jan. 18,ย  Redford again will welcome the world (45,000 film lovers) to Park City for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.