The GSM Association (GSMA) announced on 1st February that film actor, director and Sundance Institute Founder & President, Robert Redford will headline at Mobile Backstage, a special one day Mobile Entertainment conference on Wednesday 13th February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the world’s largest communications industry event.
Known as the primary force for 25 years in the nurturing of new cinematic voices and the emergence of independent film as a force in the entertainment industry, Redford and Sundance continue a tradition of exploration and promotion of content delivery on new platforms.
On stage at Barcelona’s National Palace, Redford will participate in a keynote interview, which among other topics will explore the potential of mobile - the ‘4th screen’ - as a medium for independent filmmakers to reach new audiences on a global basis. His appearance at the Congress follows the collaborative Sundance Film Festival: Global Short Film Project with the GSMA, showcased at last year’s event, and follows on the heels of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which concluded last week in Park City, Utah. Redford’s Sundance Channel will be represented this year in the Congress programme related to content being produced in association with Isabella Rossellini and which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
"The energy and opportunity that this event presents, not just for business but for artists and their work, makes it particularly exciting for me," said Redford. "The GSMA continues to take seriously both the business of delivering content and the art of creating content, as they lead the exciting mobile sector into the future," he added.
"We are thrilled and honoured to announce this rare keynote appearance by a screen legend," said Bill Gajda, Chief Marketing Officer of the GSMA. "As a champion of independent artists and their work, and as an advocate of innovation and risk taking in the film world, we can expect some forthright, refreshing and somewhat unexpected insights for the mobile world, especially in terms of opportunities for cinematic quality film on the small screen."
Redford will also appear at the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards night on Tuesday 13th February, introducing the GSMA’s Mobile Entertainment category.
Mobile Backstage is produced by the GSMA in collaboration with The Nielsen Company and its leading entertainment industry magazines Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. Both Mobile Backstage and the Global Mobile Awards will take place at Barcelona’s National Palace in Montjuic, above the Mobile World Congress complex.
