Robert Redford was rarely spotted at Sundance in his final years, yet the late Hollywood legend forever looms large at the influential US movie festival he co-created.

Set up in the 1980s to support creative, independent directors at a time when the blockbuster era launched by "Jaws" and "Star Wars" held sway over Hollywood, Sundance is for many filmmakers the epitome of Redford's legacy.

"Reflecting on Robert's importance is like reflecting on the moon's importance -- it's tidal," said David Osit, a director whose documentary "Predators" premiered at this year's Sundance.

"It's beyond comprehension, his impact. I don't know what our profession looks like without his influence, especially on independent film," he told AFP.

Years before his breakthrough role in "Butch Cassidy and the Su

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