The Change Mariner

Evolution of Sundance: Big Name Stars in (Quasi) Independent Films

HollywoodReporter: The competitive categories of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival will be characterized by big-name actors appearing in films by relatively unknown directors, projects influenced by Sept. 11 and a record-breaking number of projects from black filmmakers.

... Said Festival Director Geoff Gilmore, speaking of next month's 20th edition of the festival: "Years ago, I was committed to this idea that we had to have a level playing field and that you don't put movies with stars in competition. But the independent world that existed (then) doesn't exist now, and many of the independent films that are produced these days have some level of major actor in them. And we've gotten to the point where we felt that was an issue that we no longer should hold as a major impetus to what the program is. It has been an evolution, and this year, we have a large number of works with major stars."

... "You look at that program, and it's a very eclectic program, and 13 out of the 16 are from first-timers, and how many of them have distribution? None," Gilmore said. "So all of them are films that have taken a risk and are doing different kinds of things, and the actors that are in them are taking risks, too."

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