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One conservative group isn't pleased with the sexual content and suggested the state of Utah cease its financial support of the festival. But Redford isn't worried. "We either ignore them or remind them that it's a free country and they should maybe look at the Constitution," he said. Meanwhile, with recent attention on gun violence and what role Hollywood might play, Redford said the conversation ought to continue, noting that President Ronald Reagan was shot at the same year the Sundance Festival began. "Now, 30 years later, it's absolutely not only appropriate, but overdue to have a dialogue," he said. He added that he has a question for the film industry after seeing two movie billboards in Los Angeles that prominently feature guns: "Does my industry think that guns will help sell tickets?" One of the documentaries in competition this year, "Valentine Road," deals with the 2008 school shooting of an eighth-grader in California by a fellow classmate. "It all the sudden has a new resonance," said Cooper, noting that the film was selected before last month's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. "We chose it because it's an amazing movie." The festival begins in earnest Thursday night with screenings of four films. Screenings, workshops, parties and schmoozing will continue through Jan. 27. Cooper, whose staff culled the 119 festival offerings from thousands of submissions, said he can't wait for audiences to see the selections. "I just want to get this thing started," he said. "I feel like I'm sitting on a powder keg of talent that needs to explode." ___ Online:
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