PARK CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) – A conservative Utah group is reacting to Robert Redford’s accusations that their views on the Sundance Film Festival are “narrow-minded”.
A lot of people love the Sundance Film Festival, but not everyone feels the same way. One of those groups is the Sutherland Institute, and Thursday Redford let them have his opinion.
“Sometimes the narrowest mind barks the loudest,” said Robert Redford.
That’s what Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford said Thursday during a press conference when asked about Utah conservative group the Sutherland Institute.
“If they’d like us to go away we’ll probably take $70 to 80 million with us,” said Redford.
Sutherland said Utah should no longer financially support the festival, specifically referring to $312,000 spent in tax payer dollars.
“Why do they need $312,000 tax dollars from Utahns?” asked Paul Mero, Sutherland Institute President.
Friday ABC 4 Reporter Brian Carlson told Sutherland’s President what Redford said about them.
“How do you feel about Robert calling you narrow-minded?” asked Carlson.
“I think it’s just part of the script for Hollywood types to call anyone narrow-minded that doesn’t agree with them,” said Mero.
Redford specifically took issue with that some at Sutherland don’t approve of Sundance showing this year’s film “Lovelace” starring James Franco as Hugh Hefner, and the film “Two Mothers” where two women fall for each other’s adult sons.
“It’s a matter of choice. I would just say to these people we either ignore them or remind them that it is a free country and remind them to look at the constitution,” said Redford.
“I think I would remind Mr. Redford to read the Utah state budget,” said Mero.
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