Redford Bringing Sundance to London

The Sundance Film Festival will soon make its British debut, founder Robert Redford announced yesterday in London, where he also pleaded for continued funding for the arts. "You can't cut the arts because it enriches the culture," the 74-year-old actor said. "You can't, unless it is an ideological argument, classify the arts as a trivial pursuit." He made his remarks as he revealed details of a new mini-Sundance that will be launched in April of next year in London's O2 concert complex.

"We want to bring a slice of our culture to this space. There will also be American music, as well as debates and panel discussions," he said. "Time will tell how it works. We're coming in very small." Redford said he began his independent film festival in Park City, Utah, because "I thought it would be more weird, more odd and more interesting. I also like to ski." (More Robert Redford stories.)