Amy Redford Honors Her Dad, Robert Redford, Before Sundance 2026
Amy Redford, the daughter of the late Robert Redford, cherishes her fond memories of her father as the Sundance Film Festival approaches for the first time since his passing.
“He was playful, curious, and kind,” Amy shared with Today show coanchors Laura Jarrett and Peter Alexander on Monday, January 19, providing a rare glimpse into Robert’s parenting style. “He taught us to truly discover what we are passionate about and pursue the things that could make a difference in the world.”
Amy, now 55, continued, “One of the best things he did for our family was raise us between New York City and the Sundance mountains. This duality exposed us to urban life and the beauty of nature, instilling in us a profound sense of stewardship, which we all carry with pride to this day.”
Robert had four children with his first wife, historian Lola Van Wagenen: sons Scott, who tragically passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 1959, and James, who lost his battle with cancer at age 58 in 2020, along with daughters Shauna, 65, and Amy. The legendary Oscar-winning actor was later married to artist Sibylle Szaggars.
This year’s Sundance will honor Robert, who co-founded the festival in 1978 to highlight independent filmmakers. It marks the first Sundance since the Sting star passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in September 2025 at the age of 89.
Amy pointed out in the interview that her father had been cautioned against starting the festival, but he chose to follow his vision instead.
“If you tell him not to do it, that just means it hasn’t been done yet,” she said. “He believed he had a platform and was determined to use it for change. He knew there were countless untold stories and talented storytellers waiting to be discovered, and that was his core motivation.”
Amy, who shares her father’s legacy as an actor and director, remarked that he never focused on the impact he made.
“He was not someone who looked back,” she said. “His legacy is about giving forward. His establishment of The Redford Center with my late brother, Jamie, and his awareness that every artist who came through the Sundance Institute could eventually rise to prominence, like Ryan Coogler and Chloé Zhao, speaks to that ethos.”
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival is scheduled to take place from January 22 to February 1 in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah.
