POLLYWOOD | POINT OF VIEW

By ROBERT REDFORD

Independent film is a quintessentially American endeavor. It embodies a defining mark of our national character- a fundamental belief in the rights of the individual. It is rooted in the notion that voices outside of the mainstream enhance our culture, and the insistence that artists working outside of the system can make films in their own way. Our most basic American values -freedom of expression, a right to privacy, and a democracy of ideas and voices- are rooted in our collective faith in human potential. Our conviction that people should create their own destinies by actively participating in society at large, and by questioning those in power, has formed this country.

We are currently in the midst of a broad conversation about the role of individual rights within a democratic society. Extending voice and power to greater segments of our populace has marked some of our greatest social progress. From the founding principle of religious freedom, to the abolition of slavery, to women's right to vote, expanding individual rights and diversifying the power of the base of our democracy have been central to some of the most defining moments in our history. Independent film is a forum that embraces differences and dissent and in which individuals who exercise their freedom of expression often succeed in breaking new ground. In this pluralistic arena, high value is placed on diverse voices and on the unique idea the offer culture at large.

In independent film there are no keys to the kingdom and there is no formula for success. The only requirements are the will, tenacity and skill to tell a unique story in a compelling way. Independent film champions the ability of individuals to make films on their own

terms and extends the power of a platform to new groups of people. The artists who choose to make their films independently embody the idea that exploration and invention move us forward as a society. By taking creative risks, independent filmmakers experiment with methods that lead to innovation and later make their way into the mainstream. And by expressing alternative voices, theses artists add texture to our cultural identity.

Whether the narrative or documentary in form, when independent films enter our national dialogue they provide us with important information about the people and the issues that define our times. Personal stories told by unexpected voices foster an appreciation for the myriad ways in which diverse individuals navigate daily life. With subjects that range from the state of our natural environment to foreign wars, documentaries offer vital alternative sources for information that we may otherwise be hard-pressed to find. Increasingly, independent filmmakers provide the kind of information that is necessary for citizens in a democracy to exercise their right and responsibility to be informed and active participants in society.

Collectively, these filmmakers comprise a loosely connected movement that its very diversity provides a more complete and complex picture of America than any politically motivated sound byte ever will. And as we see individuals liberties comprised, independent films and the artists who make them continue to remind us that who we are as Americans is most fundamentally defined by our values of individualism, freedom of expression, and a democracy of ideas.