Robert Redford Blames 'All Is Lost' Distributors for Oscar Snub

At the opening press conference for this year’s edition of The Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford was still smarting over his Oscar snub for “All Is Lost,” for which he was considered a frontrunner in the best actor race. When a moderator mentioned Redford was overlooked by the Academy for his performance in the film by J.C. Chandor, the audience booed.

Although he said that “All Is Lost” “gave me the chance as an actor to go back to my

roots,” Redford criticized the film’s distributors (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions) saying “we suffered from little to no distribution… I don’t know what they were afraid of. They didn’t want to spend money or they were incapable.”

Redford also blamed the studios for not adequately promoting the film. “We had no campaign to cross over into the mainstream,” he said. As far as the Oscar snub, he said, “There’s a lot of campaigning and it can be very political… Would it have been wonderful to be nominated? Of course. I’m not disturbed by it or upset by it.”

As for the larger mission of the festival, now in its 30th year, Redford said it was important to clarify “who we are and why we’re here.” Redford applauded Harvey Weinstein who, he said, “used his passion for independent film to elevate it.

That’s where the business is going. Our job is to provide the

opportunity for it to be seen.”

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