Robert Redford and Sundance come to New Mexico

[BlueJessamine]

New Mexico Independent

A portion of the fabled Sundance Institute will move to New Mexico, with a goal of raising up a generation of new Hispanic and Native American filmmakers, film star Robert Redford and Gov. Bill Richardson announced Thursday.

As the two men envision it, veteran film directors, producers, actors and writers will work with Hispanic and Native American filmmakers in a series of labs to be conducted here in New Mexico. The goal is to help bring out “under-represented voices of our society,” Richardson said.

In fact, Sundance will roll out its first event this Saturday. Lauded independent filmmaker John Sayles, who directed “Matewan,” “Eight Men Out,” “Lone Star” and “Men With Guns,” heads up a panel of award-winning filmmakers on the writing life.

The event is at the Scottish Rite Temple at Washington Street and Paseo De Peralta in Santa Fe.

Lisa Strout, director of New Mexico’s film office, said other similar events would roll out over the year. All told, the Sundance programs would cost $80,000 to $90,000 a year and that will be paid for through existing funds.

Most of the labs will be held at Los Luceros, a 18th-century hacienda in northern New Mexico.


http://newmexicoindependent.com/27566/robert-redford-and-sundance-come-to-new-mexico