Sundance Film Festival to go ahead despite Los Angeles wildfires
Sundance Film Festival have confirmed the prestigious event will continue to go ahead in Park City, Utah, despite the wildfires in Los Angeles.
The independent film festival is set to commence on January 23rd and run until February 2nd. Movies that are set to be shown at this year’s Sundance include Opus, starring Ayo Edebiri, and Rabbit Trap, starring Rose McEwen alongside Dev Patel.
The movie industry has been significantly hit by the wildfires, which are currently still causing destruction in Los Angeles, however, Sundance will not be affected. In a statement, CEO Amanda Kelso and festival director Eugene Hernandez said, “Our community has a history of coming together when passion and perseverance are needed most, drawing strength from the deep bonds that make us so resilient. Right now, we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on.”
It comes after Michelle Satter, the founding senior director of artist programs at the Sundance Institute, revealed she lost her home in Palisades due to the wildfires. Satter shared on social media: “Our heart goes out to everyone who’s experiencing loss during this devastating time in our city.”
At this stage, the wildfires that began on January 7th have yet to be fully contained and are continuing to wreak havoc in Los Angeles. According to the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner, 24 people have died as a result of the wildfires, and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed in a 40,000-acre vicinity.
Several high-profile figures from the entertainment industry have lost their homes due to the fires, including Mel Gibson, Mandy Moore, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Paris Hilton, and Adam Brody.
In light of the disaster, Jamie Lee Curtis and Beyoncé have both donated seven-figure sums to help the relief effort.
Due to the ongoing situation in Los Angeles, the premieres of A Better Man, Unstoppable, The Last Showgirl, and Wolf Man have all been cancelled. Additionally, the premiere of Back in Action, starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, was also cancelled in New York.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended Oscar voting by two days because of the wildfires and postponed the announcement of the nominations to January 19th. The Critics Choice Awards, which were due to take place on January 12th, have also been pushed back to January 26th.
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