A bulletin board littered with movie posters is seen on Main Street on the first day of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The 25th annual festival of independent films runs through January 24.
Robert Redford, whose Sundance Institute has overseen the festival for a quarter century, shared some advice for anyone aiming to break into filmmaking: "If you want to come into this business, you need to want it more than anything else in your life, because it's going to be a hard road."
Actor Wesley Snipes arrives for the premiere of "Brooklyn's Finest," Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Ashley Judd arrives for the premiere of "Helen," Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Spike Lee has debuted films at other other major festivals, but this year marks his first at Sundance. He told reporters he thinks his film, "Passing Strange," could become a cult film: "I grew up remembering the midnight shows of 'Rocky Horror.' I could definitely see this playing midnight shows for years."
Mariah Carey and her husband, singer Nick Cannon, arrive at the premiere of "Push" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Actor Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower arrive at the premiere of "Push" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Actor Kevin Bacon and his wife, actress Kyra Sedgwick, arrive at the premiere of "Taking Chance" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Actor and producer Ben Affleck speaks during a press conference for the documentary film "Reporter" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009.
Actor Ashton Kutcher poses next to a jukebox at the T-Mobile G1 Diner at Village at the Yard in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Actor Larry Fessenden of the movie "I Sell the Dead" arrives at the Slamdance lounge red carpet event on Friday. Slamdance was formed 15 years ago by filmmakers whose work was rejected by Sundance. Now it's a major event all its own, screening 100 films this year.
Model Christie Brinkley poses for the Got Milk? campaign at the Spa at the Lift, Jan. 16, 2009.
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg arrives at the Axe Fix Club at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Lady Victoria Hervey arrives at the Axe Fix Club at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Michael Satsky, left, and DJ AM arrive at the Axe Fix Club at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Writer-director Adam Elliot arrives at the premiere of "Mary and Max," Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. The Australian animated film received a generally warm reception as the fest's opening film, with Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman supplying key voices.
Traffic moves slowly down Main Street on the opening day of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. This year's festival will present more than 200 films, including in sidebars and special exhibitions.