Overview
- The award will be presented at “Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford” on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah.
- Sundance defines the honor as recognizing individuals who use their resources and reach to open doors for storytellers, in line with Redford’s vision for independent film.
- Ed Harris has served as a creative advisor to the Directors and Screenwriters Labs since 2002, and Gyula Gazdag has advised since 1994 and led the Directors Lab as artistic director since 1997.
- Board Chair Ebs Burnough and Acting CEO Amanda Kelso said the tribute supports the nonprofit’s mission by funding labs, grants, and public programs for independent artists.
- The 2026 festival, the last in Utah before a 2027 move to Boulder, runs Jan. 22–Feb. 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City, with an at-home program Jan. 29–Feb. 1.