“Robert Redford's commitment to the power of storytelling had a significant impact on independent cinema,” the Sundance Institute announced on its website. Robert Redford—actor, director, producer, and founder of the Sundance Institute—died on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. This year's festival will be a significant tribute to Robert Redford and his vision, which has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema worldwide. The festival will take place from January 22 to February 1, 2026, in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.

From a German perspective, Visar Morina's drama SHAME AND MONEY will participate in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section. The drama is about a Kosovar family who have lost their livelihood. They are now forced to move from their village to the capital to find a place in a hypercapitalist society. A story, as the title suggests, about shame and money.

The second major German film, THE WEIGHT, which will be screened in the Premieres section, was shot mainly in Germany, in the Bavarian Forest. The leading roles are played by Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe. Padraic McKinley's historical drama is set in Oregon in 1933: after the death of his wife and his imprisonment in a labor camp, Samuel Murphy fights to regain custody of his daughter Penny until he becomes involved in a risky gold smuggling operation. A film about both the dangers of the wilderness and betrayal within one's own ranks.

All German productions and co-productions in Sundance at a glance:

World Cinema Dramatic Competition
SHAME AND MONEY by Visar Morina (DE/XK/SVN/ALB/MKD/BEL, Schuldenberg Films, Vicky Bane)

Premieres
THE WEIGHT by Padraic McKinley (DE/US, Augenschein Filmproduktion, Construction Filmproduktion)