Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh's career got its big start in Park City 30 years ago. He'll be returning to receive a special honor.

On the 30th anniversary of Soderbergh's Sundance Film Festival debut of sex, lies and videotape, Soderbergh will receive the Founders Award at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival (for which City Weekly is a sponsor). Soderbergh's features Schizopolis and And Everything Is Going Fine have previously screened at Slamdance.

"'Don't ask for permission!' That was Steven Soderbergh's advice to us when Slamdance was getting started, and it continues to be the core of our brand. We answer to no one,” said Slamdance co-founder Peter Baxter. “Slamdance filmmakers have changed the entertainment industry and Steven Soderbergh showed us the way. Without his involvement over the last 25 years both as a filmmaker and mentor to our filmmakers, Slamdance wouldn't be the organization it is today."

The Founders Award presentation will include a conversation between Soderbergh and Baxter, followed by a premiere screening of Soderbergh's new feature High Flying Bird, which comes to Netflix in February. Written by Moonlight scribe Tarell Alvin McCraney, the film tells the story of a sports agent (André Holland) who comes to one of his clients, a rookie basketball player, with a unique opportunity during a pro basketball lockout. Tickets for all Slamdance events and screenings are available at Slamdance.com.