THINGS THAT MADE ME GO HMM - Sundance Director Leaves For Tribeca
Some news with potentially long term ramifications that almost went unnoticed by me this morning.
Sundance festival president/director Geoffrey Gilmore has left his long-time home to become chief creative officer of Tribeca Enterprises, the company that operates the Tribeca Film Festival.
Gilmore had a 19-year career at Sundance that culminated in his role as director of the Sundance Film Festival.
Tribeca Enterprises is the New York-based media firm founded by Travis Bickle himself, Monsieur Robert De Niro. It operates Tribeca Film Festival International, amongst other enterprises; although the festival is probably its most famous offering.
Gilmore said he sees an opportunity for Tribeca Enterprises "to develop a film organization that can create a new paradigm for the future."
So, what might all this mean? Maybe nothing; but I can't help speculating, given all the recent articles I've read, and discussions I've heard in the last 2 years about Sundance's waning influence, thanks in part to the digital revolution we've experienced in recent years, during much of Gilmore's tenure as director of the festival.
Might he be hoping to replicate the success he had at Sundance, at Tribeca, a festival that has so far failed to meet the expectations of its creators, the locals, and the industry it serves (which would explain their move to bring in a man with Gilmore's rep and experience)?
They say every empire eventually falls, only to be replaced by a new one. Might Tribeca be trying to put itself on that path - to emerge as Sundance's replacement, when that particular empire meets its eventual demise?
I don't know! But I find it all rather interesting :o)
via THR
It would be easy to call this the death knell for Sundance, but Gilmore leaving is significant, almost like Redford walking away.
Maybe festivals will become less important in the era of eSpace. Let's see.