as Coppola, Lucas and other visionary independent
filmmakers were brought under various studio
umbrellas but allowed a certain amount of creative
control. Were the results studio films? Independents?
In a sense, they were both.
Indie film festivals, events and awards
In 1978, in an effort to attract filmmakers to
Utah and demonstrate the potential of independent
filmmaking, the Utah/US Film Festival was created,
with Hollywood star Robert Redford agreeing to
chair the proceedings. In 1981, Redford created the
Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated “to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences.” The Utah/US Film
Festival evolved into the annual Sundance Film
Festival and has spawned festivals for cineastes
around the world.
“Film festivals play a vital role in helping the
world discover new talent,” says Welsh. “They help
launch new filmmakers and new films into the
world. What I love most at a festival is when I walk
into a darkened theater not knowing anything about
the film that I’m about to see and just being com-
pletely excited and inspired by something brand-
new. I think that’s something that you really only get
at a festival.”
Along with festivals, the importance of awards
cannot be overstated. While some may think
awards, whether they are Academy or Film
Independent Spirit awards, are presented for the
vanity of the artists, they are important for the mar-
ketability of a film.
“Awards really enhance the life of the movie,”
attests Michael Barker, co-president with Tom
Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics, an autonomous
division of Sony Pictures Entertainment that produces and distributes domestic and international
independent films. “They give the movie that kind
of posterity, which is really, really important. And
awareness that you couldn’t buy. If you’re nominated
for the Oscar, everybody in the world knows about
that movie.”
Independent talent
Two of the most exciting aspects of independent films are the discovery of new artistic voices in
filmmakers, such as Shelton, and exposure to new
acting talent, such as Michael B. Jordan.
Shelton, who’s finishing her sixth feature film,
originally started as an actress (she appears in some
of her own, as well as others’, films), but became disillusioned and turned her attention to photography
and film.
The Costco
Connection
Look for the “I Love
Independent Film” logo on
select films at your local
Costco. Titles include:
• Amour (12/30)
• Love Is All You Need (12/30)
• Salmon Fishing in the
Yemen (12/30)
• Searching for Sugarman
(12/30)
• Touchy Feely (1/3)
• Room 237 (1/13)
• Enough Said (1/14)
• Fruitvale Station (1/14)
• Before Midnight (1/20)
Tablet or smartphone?
Click or scan here to see the trailer
for All Is Lost in our digital newsstand and online editions. (See page
5 for scanning instructions.)
CONTINUED ON PAGE 78
© 2013 THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
VAN REDDIN