Robert Redford Honors Michelle Satter at Emotional Gala After Devastating Loss

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Similar to numerous inspiring tales, Michelle Satter‘s journey at Sundance began with a simple phone call and culminated in an extraordinary proposal.

Over four decades ago, a fresh graduate named Satter, who had recently established a performing arts group in Boston, received a life-altering phone call and query from a dear friend. “Would you think about joining the Sundance Institute in Utah for the inaugural month-long filmmakers lab that Robert Redford was initiating?” Satter reminisced, standing on a ballroom stage at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley during the Sundance Institute gala last Friday. “I couldn’t refuse such an offer.

The next summer rolled around, and it was then when Satter joined. During this period, Redford outlined his plan for the Sundance Institute, a design that aimed to bring together seasoned screenwriters, directors, and actors. Their collective decades of experience would be passed down to emerging filmmakers with the intent of helping them craft and direct the most powerful renditions of the stories they were meant to tell.

Initially smitten, Satter affectionately referred to it as “love at first sight.” As her departure approached, a mere month away, she mustered the courage to request a brief meeting with none other than Mr. Redford, who she fondly knew as “Bob,” during those final moments.

With as much conviction as I could manage, I informed him that it was essential for me to establish an L.A. office and aid him in realizing the vision he had conceived. After a brief pause, he responded, ‘Alright, contact me once you’ve arrived.’ In that very moment, I realized that when someone says ‘yes,’ it’s best to cease further discussion.

1981 marked the beginning of Satter’s tenure as the inaugural director for artist programs at the Sundance Institute, where she collaborated closely with Redford and a compact but potent group. Together, they devised a strategy to aid independent narrators through an annual June workshop for filmmakers. Through the passage of time, she played a significant role in establishing the episodic program, producers program, and the Institute’s global endeavors. Currently, she is responsible for managing the Indigenous, catalyst, and documentary film programs, and her pioneering work led to the creation of the worldwide digital platform Sundance Collab.

If you ask any renowned filmmaker, writer, festival expert or industry insider who embodies the essence of Sundance Film Festival and the soul of independent cinema, it’s likely that Lisa Satter will be the first name mentioned. Over the years, she has been recognized as a guiding force for numerous talented filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Chloé Zhao, Dee Rees, John Cameron Mitchell, Paul Thomas Anderson, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ryan Coogler, Miranda July, Kimberly Peirce, Darren Aronofsky, Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi and many others.

Last night, Satter, who usually prefers to stay out of the spotlight, stepped forward to accept her accolades as the main honoree at Celebrating Sundance presented by Google TV. The glittering event, which was held to gather funds for the Sundance Institute and its projects, had a select group of honorees such as James Mangold (Trailblazer Award), Cynthia Erivo (Visionary Award), Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie (Vanguard Award for Fiction) and Sean Wang (Vanguard Award for Nonfiction).

Most of the names on that list were recently nominated for Oscars, and as they stepped up to accept their awards, everyone in the audience was captivated. However, it was clear that the event morphed into Michelle Satter’s moment to shine. She was honored by three different presenters – Glenn Close, filmmaker Marielle Heller, and Amy Redford, daughter of Bob – who each read a letter written by her father.

In awe-struck silence, I found myself standing witness as Satter, my admiration for her undiminished, held court with her powerful, heartfelt words at the podium. Surrounded by applause that echoed like thunder, she embodied resilience in the face of adversity, a spirit tempered but unbroken by the devastating Palisades Fire that claimed their family home and the tragic loss of their beloved son, Michael Latt, barely a year prior.

Regarding Bob’s letter, let me delve deeper into that later. In Redford’s prepared speech, he praised Michelle by saying, “You have persevered through four decades of shifting governments, health crises, and chaos, not just because of your work, but because of who you are. The world has undergone immense transformation in these past four decades, yet one constant remains – you, Michelle. You have been a beacon of stability amidst all the change.” This remark moved Amy to tears. Redford continued, “You have always been dedicated to your craft and the artist, providing them with guidance when needed – whether it’s encouragement to keep going, a gentle nudge, or a firm push.

Close stated that she’s had a prime view of all these occurrences. “I’ve witnessed her in action. She’s always there. Her focus is like a laser beam. She listens, she empathizes, she questions, she contests, and she celebrates when the expected breakthrough occurs and a fresh voice arises,” said Close, gesturing towards the divided cultural and political environment. “Never before in human history has the voice of the artist been more crucial to speak truth to power, to keep us connected to our shared humanity, to stir and motivate us, to make us resilient and strong.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my thoughts about Satter. While she might not appear towering or powerful at first glance, let me tell you, she embodies strength and more. “Michelle possesses a gentle voice, standing small in stature. Yet, Michelle, you are a colossal figure, an adventurer, a visionary, a master of illusion, a warrior, a thought-provoker, a fearless mentor, and above all, a loving wife and mother – summing up the essence of your extraordinary character.

During her trophy acceptance speech, Satter frequently mentioned the influence of both her family at the Institute and her personal one. As a daughter of a Holocaust survivor mother (who is soon to be 102 years old and still an accomplished bridge player) and an artist father, Satter’s early life taught her about art’s ability to change lives dramatically. She shared, “I was raised in a home saturated with my father’s artwork, immersed in a realm where creativity had no limitations. His work was omnipresent, serving as a continuous reminder of how art can introduce beauty and truth into even the darkest circumstances.

Initially in her speech, Satter became emotional as she recounted the heartbreaking fire that destroyed her house. She shared with The Hollywood Reporter that she had just 10 minutes to gather personal belongings before evacuating. Believing it was merely an evacuation and hoping to return home soon, she only grabbed a few items, inadvertently losing a lifetime’s collection of cherished possessions and artwork. “This is an incredibly painful period for us and many others. A time that demands solidarity and support from all members of our community. As a friend recently reminded me, it’s crucial to take a moment, breathe deeply, and remember: we have lost our village. In the end, we are the village.

Afterward, she acknowledged and expressed gratitude towards the filmmaking village, artists, Sundance associates, and herself for embracing “Bob’s transformative ideals.” She thanked her husband David Latt and gave a shout-out to their son Franklin Latt, who holds a significant position at CAA as co-head of the motion picture talent department. “His job is quite substantial,” she remarked about him, representing numerous A-list celebrities, “he has put in a lot of effort to help artists prosper within our industry and discover opportunities to excel.

In her concluding remarks, she paid tribute to her late son Michael Latt, a prominent advocate for social justice, who unfortunately met a violent end at the hands of a mentally ill homeless woman. This week, his last film, “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams,” is being screened at Sundance. She imagined him addressing the audience, saying, “Let’s move forward by leading with love, promoting and nurturing equality and cultural transformation through art and storytelling.”

Or,

In her closing remarks, she honored Michael Latt, a dedicated champion of social justice who was cruelly taken from us. A tragic incident caused by a mentally ill homeless woman claimed his life. His final work, the short film “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams,” is being shown at Sundance this week. She envisioned him speaking to everyone present, encouraging them to advance through love, by fostering and promoting equity and cultural change via art and storytelling.

As a fan, I was thrilled to witness some standout moments during the event. For instance, Cynthia Erivo graciously accepted an award presented by Olivia Colman, who donned an Elphaba-inspired tiara for the occasion. Paul Mangold received accolades from both Edward Norton via video and Joel Edgerton personally. To wrap up the night, Sara Bareilles took the stage to perform two songs, one of which was the world debut of “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet.” This heartfelt track will be featured in Ryan White’s Sundance documentary, Come See Me in the Good Light, and she penned it alongside Andrea Gibson and Brandi Carlile.

Regarding Mangold, despite basking in the glory of eight Oscar nominations for his Searchlight movie titled A Complete Unknown, a significant portion of his acceptance speech was dedicated to praising Satter and Sundance. He acknowledged that Sundance had always served as a guiding light for him during the early stages of his career, a distant place he only heard about or saw on television. As a fan, he initially visited Sundance, and later returned to participate in the Sundance Lab to develop what eventually became his 1997 feature film Cop Land. His debut movie, Heavy, was also invited to the festival and earned him a director’s prize.

Throughout Mangold’s successful journey in his career, he consistently maintained connections to Sundance by offering guidance and mentorship to fellow filmmakers. Reflecting on this relationship, he acknowledged, “Sundance has been a reciprocal partnership for me throughout the years. It’s where I’ve made lifelong friends like Robert Redford and Michelle Satter, who have had an indescribable impact on the evolution of filmmaking, not only at Sundance but globally from the late 20th century up until now, by nurturing new voices with kindness, firmness, and love.

Mangold emphasized that Redford’s choice to hire Satter was likely the most influential and momentous decision Redford has ever made throughout numerous decades. The most poignant aspect of his acceptance speech was when he extended a call-to-action to all the storytellers present in the ballroom and those beyond it.

In this era filled with irony, snark, and internet horrors, there’s a growing need for sincerity and genuine emotions. Yet, it doesn’t mean every film should be educational, depressing, or politically charged. It simply means we shouldn’t shy away from expressing our feelings, even if they are complex and raw.

We can combat the apathy of our culture not only through films with social messages, but also through entertaining ones that resonate deeply, evoke emotions, and feel authentic. I aspire for some of my work to be remembered in this way, and I believe that’s how the work of Sundance will be remembered too.

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2025-01-25 22:26