Goodbye Park City: Sundance Film Festival Heading to Colorado

by

The Sundance Film Festival has a new home.

Following four decades in Park City and a comprehensive year-long search for a fresh location upon the end of its existing agreement, the cherished independent film festival has chosen Boulder, Colorado as its venue for the 2027 edition. Boulder emerged victorious among numerous other contenders, with notable competitors such as Cincinnati and Salt Lake City, the latter of which would have involved some Park City-based operations. The new 10-year contract with the city of Boulder and the state of Colorado has been confirmed by Sundance officials.

Embracing change is essential for our development and endurance, and this principle has been the heart of our endeavors all along. This transition aims to preserve the festival’s role in championing daring narratives, nurturing groundbreaking storytellers, promoting self-reliance, and offering engaging and enlightening experiences to our audience. As a devoted fan, I express my heartfelt appreciation for the Boulder community’s unwavering backing throughout the years. I eagerly anticipate witnessing what lies ahead for the festival in this exciting new chapter.

Over the past few years, Park City has gained a reputation as an unaccommodating place. Numerous agencies and studios have significantly reduced the number of employees they send to Park City, given that accommodations for Sundance can soar above ten thousand dollars, while Hollywood tries to save costs through industry-wide budget reductions. Additionally, locals are growing weary of the constant influx of people into their small town, as public transportation is taken over and traffic congestion worsens during an already bustling period, including peak ski season.

Approximately 72,840 individuals participated in the 2024 Sundance Festival, with a third of them coming from outside their home state. In contrast, the attendance was significantly higher in 2020, totaling 116,800 participants, marking the last physical festival before the pandemic forced the event online for the following two years.

The process of determining Sundance’s new location lasted an entire year and involved narrowing down the contenders from 67 cities that submitted detailed information. Key factors under review were travel (many industry veterans expressed concerns about the lack of daily direct flights from LAX to Cincinnati), public transportation, accommodations, and of course, suitable movie theater spaces. At least one venue was required to have a seating capacity of 1,300 for film premiere showings. Sundance personally inspected the finalists’ sites on multiple occasions, assessing their infrastructure.

The upcoming festival will be managed by Denver International Airport, offering numerous direct flights from 46 U.S. states and various international destinations. Given Boulder’s status as a college town, there are plenty of hotels available, and Sundance is collaborating with these accommodations to maintain reasonable prices without excessive surges during the festival period. The organization also highlighted the advantage of having the University of Colorado Boulder nearby, which contributes to an involved and local youth audience. Previously, the city has welcomed film enthusiasts through the Boulder International Film Festival, established in 2005 and now attracting over 20,000 guests annually. It remains uncertain how this transition will affect competing festivals.

Sundance chose not to disclose any specifics about potential tax breaks and financial incentives from its prospective new home state. According to Board Chair Ebs Burnough, “We can only say that each of the finalist states truly excelled in every aspect they could offer.

Similar to Park City, Boulder boasts stunning natural beauty with the majestic Rocky Mountains. Amanda Kelso, acting CEO of Sundance, shares with THR, “What truly matters to us, something we inherit from Robert Redford’s founding principles and mission, is the concept of celebrating in a location that offers both a feeling of spaciousness and a strong sense of place. And what makes Boulder so charming is being enveloped by the Flat Irons; it’s truly an attractive town.

One issue raised by long-time festival attendees regarding the proposed change in location is the possible political climate at a new venue for a film festival emphasizing free speech, given its history of showcasing thought-provoking films. Utah, being a traditionally conservative state, has been growing less welcoming towards diversity. Recently, the Utah legislature enacted a bill seeking to prohibit LGBTQ+ flags from public buildings and schools, which is concerning considering previous legislation limiting transgender individuals’ access to restrooms and locker rooms aligning with their self-identified gender.

Despite the moves at the festival not influencing its daily operations directly, the traditional philosophy guiding them clashes significantly with Sundance’s purpose and principles, along with the audience it attracts annually. Lately, local authorities have been sending a clear message as well. Daniel McCay, a Utah state senator for south Salt Lake and north Utah counties, has criticized the festival on X, stating via a post, “Goodbye Felicia…Sundance promotes explicit content, endorses unconventional lifestyles, and presents themes against [Latter Day Saints]. Sundance no longer fits in Utah.

The leadership at Sundance made it clear that political matters in local communities didn’t impact their decision when choosing a new location for the festival. As Sundance has been based in Utah for 40 years, they are not overly concerned with every piece of legislation that gets enacted, according to Burnough. Instead, their focus was on determining how the Sundance Film Festival can grow and maintain its commitment to nurturing artists and engaging audiences. In essence, politics played no role in their search for a new home.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated, “In our state, we value the arts and film industry as a significant economic engine, job provider, and enriching element of our vibrant culture. By hosting the renowned Sundance Film Festival, we’re looking forward to creating even more jobs and providing a substantial boost for local businesses such as shops and restaurants.

2027 finds the festival moving to Boulder, marking its last hurrah in Park City in 2026. The grand finale is set for January 22 to February 1, a fitting farewell for me as a fan.

Over the past 35 years, I’ve been attending this festival, and Park City has played a crucial role in the history of the Sundance Film Festival,” says festival director Eugene Hernandez. Looking ahead, he remarks, “[Boulder] offers us an opportunity to grow. It is a location that fundamentally resonates so well with Sundance.

Read More

2025-03-27 20:54