Redford on Ray: "We lost a true warrior for independent voice with the passing of Bingham Ray. He was a valued member of the Sundance family for as long as I can remember and mentored countless seminal storytellers, bringing their work to the world."
LONDON – Sundance Channel in Europe and Asia plans to air fresh programming created by young aspiring producers during the inaugural Sundance London film and music festival.
The channel, airing across the two continents, will also roll out television premieres of recently acquired titles from the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Airing May 5 and 6 this year, the network’s exclusive coverage of Sundance London will come as a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Sundance Channel and Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute, and the young producers program set up by Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group and youth agency Livity.
It will be a package of selected highlights from Sundance London.
Sundance London runs April 26 through 29, 2012 at the sprawling O2 leisure complex and will play host to 14 movies and a series of concerts and discussions with musicians and filmmakers alike.
Redford said the television plan marks a “a continuation of our mission that began 30 years ago in the mountains of Utah.”
He described independent film as becoming “one of the most exciting forums to showcase diverse voices and compelling stories.”
Said Redford: “Sundance Channel continues to provide a platform for emerging talent. It’s also exciting that young artists will become involved in the first Sundance London festival and that their work will be seen on the network internationally.”
The network has snapped up rigths to three films that premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, including California Solo from U.S. writer/director Marshall Lewy and starring Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting); Brazil’s Father’s Chair (A Cadeira do Pai), directed by Luciano Moura and Greece’s L directed by Babis Makridis.
AMC/Sundance Channel Global president Bruce Tuchman said: “This extensive promotion to support new voices and outstanding creativity will enable viewers to experience the energy and excitement of Sundance London and the Sundance Film Festival in their own homes.”
