The Sundance Film Festival is the most important festival in the United States. It is officially referred to as Utah or US Film Festival, US Film, and Video Festival. It is an annual film festival, organized by the Sundance Institute. It is recognized as the largest independent film festival in the US. The 2016 Sundance Film festival was attended by 46,660. Wanted to know about Sundance film festival winners? If you are curious to uncover interesting facts about Sundance Film Festival, read the complete blog and take our enjoyable trivia.
Facts about Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is held each January in Park City, Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; and at the Sundance Resort. This festival organizes several competitive categories for American and international dramatic and documentary movies including short films and films and a crew of our competition teams. It includes Spotlight, Midnight, NEXT, New Frontier, From the Collection, Premieres, Documentary Premieres, and Sundance Kids. This festival is important and known for pioneering the film industry for the past 35 years. It is known as the largest independent film festival in the world, around 60,000 attendees visit the event annually. It is arranged to honor American-made movies. The Utah Film Commission is credited for introducing the concept of this film event to encourage independent movies and to bring Utah to the attention of filmmakers.
The Sundance Festival was inaugurated in September 1978 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first chairman of the festival board was appointed by Actor and director Robert Redford and his contribution helped increase awareness and funds for the upcoming festival.
How Much Did Birth of a Nation Sell for?
- A. $60 million
- B. $17.5 million
- C. $35.5 million
- D. $200 million
Despite having ample attendees, the festival faced financial difficulties in its first two years. In 1980, the committee tried to draw as many as audiences by hosting the festival at the ski resort during winter, the management changed the location close to Park City and the date to the following January.
These changes gained more popularity but the money problem continued. After many name changes, the festival was named Sundance Film Festival in 1991. In the past few years, the festival became popular and earned a reputation for the careers of American independent filmmakers, including tSteven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers .
The festival displayed around 200 movies in its 10-day run and also gave prizes in many categories of competition. The Grand Jury Prize is believed to be the most valuable award among other awards. It is presented for documentaries and dramatic films created in the United States. Another award is, the World Cinema Jury Prize is delivered for documentaries and dramatic movies originating from other places.
Kevin Smith sold his own “Clerks” movie at Sundance. In 1994. Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” sold for a whopping $17.5 million at the Sundance Film Festival. Hence, Birth of a Nation made history at Sundance Film.
Surprisingly, ⅓ of the Sundance Festival audience belong to Utah.