As long queues, throngs of people, venturing out into the cold to catch a brief glimpse of glamourous celebrities having their pictures taken, before exiting the back door, the 10-day the Sundance Film Festival party's carnival-like atmosphere of celebrities, paparazzi and a seemingly never-ending string of parties along Utah's historic Main Street, had the mountain town of Utah looking a little more like 'The Hills' and a lot less like 'Big Love'.

Twenty-five years ago, Robert Redford in a fabled career as an actor and director, bought a ski resort in Utah and financed an institute for independent filmmakers. Most notably, he started the Sundance Film Festival named after his role as the bandit Sundance in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.'

Despite ushering many new films and stars to Hollywood, Mr. Redford's Sundance Festival is targeted with constant sniping from colleagues, who say the festival no longer reflects its independent origins and far too commercial now. Clearly prickly about the criticism, Mr. Redford responds: 'What was I supposed to do? I wanted to do something besides just make the films that interested me.'

Though, the Sundance Festival has its share of big-ticket sponsors, who can blame Mr. Redford walking down the Main Street, to aske the same question Butch Cassidy asked the Kid: 'Who are those guys?'

As the weekend brought an exodus of A-listers, before making their way back to the inauguration parties in Washington, Nick Cannon guest DJed at a Kenneth Cole Black party, held in the honour of independent filmmaking, as partygoers munched popcorn and drank beer bearing pink stamps, and watched clips of stars like Kevin Bacon, Alan Cumming and Jeff Corrigan on about half a dozen flat screen TVs throughout the room.

The intimate venue, the bottom floor of the luxurious Sky Lodge on Main Street, with a room capacity of 114-people was soon over-packed by 11:30 p. m., as it quickly became crowded with movie executives, festival volunteers and celebrities. People had to struggle to get to the bar for a drink, even as those in the mood to dance risked having to knock down those standing next to them.

Denise Richards, who drew plenty of attention, spent the morning learning to snowboard, joining the party for barely 15-minutes, as a reality television camera crew followed her around, as she mingled with friends.

Matthew Lillard best known for his appearance in 'Scream' and 'Scooby Doo' went largely unnoticed, and even had to call out to a camera crew, who had no idea what his name was, and ask them to interview him.

A number of celebrities, including Bacon were there, and due to lack of space, spent most of the time chatting each other up, to the side of the red carpet, outside the main entrance. Virginia Madsen, in town since Wednesday as a member of the Sundance jury, continually smiled as she easily worked the crowded room, refusing to let the packed house dampen her spirits. She said she had had a blast watching the movies, saying: 'I love it. I absolutely love it. I'm having a great time.'

The Sundance festival provided up-and-coming starlet - Chyna Layne, whose film Push' premiered at Sundance, with a limitless opportunity to party as she stargazed. She also confided that her favorite part of Sundance was: 'Sitting next to Robert De Niro at the premiere. That is the highlight of my life right now.'

While, film stars past a certain age are supposed to saddle up and ride into the sunset, occasionally appearing in a role as someone's crabby uncle, Mr. Redford chose another route, and even at 72, he is still one of America's favorite cowboys, Sundance forever, even though he can no longer lay claim to be the kid.