Benedict Cumberbatch Celebrates His First Sundance, Toasts ‘This Extraordinary Festival’ and Calls for LA Fire Relief Efforts: ‘Help Those in Need’

variety.com:

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Benedict Cumberbatch was the toast of the town at Sundance during the Variety Cover Party presented by United Airlines.

The actor, who graced the cover of Variety‘s 2025 Sundance issue, was honored at the event for his dramatic turn as a grieving father in “The Thing With the Feathers.” The party was held shortly before the movie’s world premiere screening at Sundance.

Variety’s co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh gave opening remarks and invited guests in attendance to donate to L.A. wildfire relief efforts, as Los Angeles is one of Variety and the film industry’s home bases.

Cumberbatch said “We do have to stand tall as an industry and help those in need” and pointed to the QR codes United and Variety provided to charities that are helping with the relief efforts and to those impacted by the wildfires. “Variety‘s Sundance issue is one of our biggest issues of the year, and this year it was a no-brainer for us who we wanted to feature on the cover,” Setoodeh then said, turning his direction towards the event’s honoree. “You know our cover star from his Oscar-nominated turns in ‘The Imitation Game’ and ‘The Power of the Dog’ and for playing Doctor Strange.