It has been a tradition since the late 1980s for the members and representatives of the Sundance Institute to hold a press conference on day one of the festival. Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford and others would answer questions from the press and also talk about the festival’s goals for the year.
However, things are different at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Film Festival will send reporters kits containing information about movies line up and video remarks from the festival leadership. But there will be no press conference this year.
The announcement came on Thursday as the festival is just days ahead.
We could not get anyone at the Sundance institute or festival administration for their comments on the decision.
The press conference on the opening day at the 2019 festival was remarkable as the founder of the Institute announced that he would be taking a step back. After the announcement, he walked off the stage. He and the Institute had a 34 years-long partnership.
In June 2019 after the festival, John Cooper announced that he would be stepping down from his position as the festival’s director. He was at the post for the last 11 years.
He issued his statement later in a press release, saying, “I look forward to remaining a part of this fantastic organization in my new role, and creating a seamless transition for new Festival leadership.”
The Sundance Institute has yet to name the festival’s director for 2020.
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