News / Entertainment
The Sundance Film Festival Begins With Anti-War Overtures
The film festival that helped make Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Kevin Smith household has begun its annual affair in Park City, Utah. The Sundance Film Festival, named by Robert Redford for his character in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” has been America’s premier independent film festival since its inception in 1978.
Serving to bring awareness to independent films and independent filmmakers, the festival has been launching point for movies such as Clerks; Sex, Lies, and Videotape; True Love; El Mariachi; The Brothers McMullen; and Napoleon Dynamite.
This year’s theme has taken more of a political stand as Redford openly admonished those responsible for the U.S. backed invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Among the films already receiving high praise and attention is “Chicago 10.” The film recounts the anti-war protests that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In what became a high-profiled case dubbed the “Chicago Seven” convictions were handed down for inciting riots.
Also being screened at the festival are films surrounding the war in Iraq. “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib” and “No End in Sight” are among the over 120 film entrants at this year’s 10-day event.
The Sundance Film Festival will run through Jan. 28.
