Jane Fonda Honors Robert Redford at TCM Festival
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- Jane Fonda opened the TCM Classic Film Festival night by honoring late Robert Redford and recounting personal memories, including her long‑standing crush on him.
- Robert Redford was described by Fonda as “the most gorgeous human being I ever been with” and praised for his integrity, yet she highlighted his habit of being two or three hours late, which delayed productions like “Electric Horseman.”
- Fonda recalled a 1966 “The Chase” conversation where Redford said he’d have an affair only with “somebody that was like a hooker,” illustrating his unconventional view on infidelity.
- Redford founded the Sundance Institute, which Fonda said has trained many filmmakers—about 60 % women and many directors of color—and that he personally funded it each year without Hollywood money.
- Fonda referenced the recent Oscars tribute to Redford, noting Barbra Streisand’s participation and expressing a desire to have been asked to speak, while also warning that pending corporate mergers could threaten Redford’s legacy.
Why it matters: The tribute underscores Sundance’s role as a haven for diverse filmmakers and signals that any consolidation in the entertainment industry could erode the independent‑film ecosystem Redford built, affecting emerging women and directors of color. It also reminds studios that personal legacies like Redford’s can be jeopardized by corporate deals, making advocacy for artistic autonomy more urgent.
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