Following an extensive one-year search, the
Sundance Film Festival
announced on Thursday that its new location will be Boulder, Colorado, maintaining Sundance’s mountain setting yet relocating it from Park City, the long-time host and iconic winter playground for indie filmmakers in Utah.
The organizers mentioned that following 40 years in the mountains, the festival was
outgrown Park City,
and did not have enough venues or cost-effective accommodations to keep hosting one of North America’s largest film festivals. Sundance had
narrowed down the options
to Salt Lake City (with a more limited presence in Park City), Cincinnati, and Boulder.
Boulder was selected because of its closeness to nature, its quaint small-town appeal, and an involved community that organizers noted creates the perfect environment for Sundance’s future growth.
Boulder is known as a technology hub, a university city, an artistic center, and a mountain community,” Amanda Kelso, the interim CEO of the Sundance Institute, stated during an interview on Thursday from Boulder. “With a population of 100,000—larger than Park City—it offers us room for growth.
Kelso, along with Ebs Burnough, the chairman of the Sundance Institute board, and Eugene Hernandez, who oversees both the festival and programming efforts, commented just prior to revealing the event’s relocation to Boulder. Local authorities, instrumental in attracting Sundance through $34 million in tax incentives over ten years, welcomed this choice positively.
“Within our state, we recognize the arts and film industry as significant contributors to our economy, generating jobs and playing an essential role in nurturing our vibrant cultural scene,” stated Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D).
In response to the decision, Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, who belongs to the Republican party, stated on Thursday that Sundance will eventually realize their mistake in leaving Utah.
I have always stated that our aim was for Sundance to remain,” Cox commented in an official statement. “We conveyed this clearly to their management team and presented them with a very strong offer. In the end, the choice belongs to them; however, I am convinced that this is a misstep, and someday, they will recognize that they abandoned more than just a location—they gave up part of their legacy.
A modification supported by Sundance founder Robert Redford.
Moving the event from Park City to Boulder keeps Sundance within mountainous terrain but shifts it from an upscale ski resort community to a bustling, outdoor-loving smaller town. This high-altitude city in Colorado, nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, retains its natural surroundings—a key consideration behind the relocation choice. In Boulder, the four-block pedestrian area along Pearl Street, complete with adjacent movie theaters, might offer a comparable downtown focal point akin to what Park City’s Main Street provides. Additionally, the Macky Auditorium located on the University of Colorado campus is anticipated to serve as one of Sundance’s primary performance venues.
In 1981, Robert Redford established the Sundance Institute with the aim of nurturing independent filmmaking talent in a setting distant from Hollywood. By 1984, the organization had assumed control of the Sundance Film Festival; however, its commitment to supporting emerging directors via ongoing labs and workshops—Redford’s true enthusiasm—remained outside the spotlight of this annual event throughout the rest of the year.
The 88-year-old Redford, who once studied at the University of Colorado in Boulder, approved the move.
Words fail to convey the genuine thankfulness I feel towards Park City, the state of Utah, and everyone within the Utah community who has contributed to building this organization,” Redford stated. “What we’ve established is incredibly unique and significant. Since change is unavoidable, we must continually adapt and expand, as this has been fundamental to our endurance.
How Sundance Selected Its New Location
At the festival, “ethical principles and equality values” were included as part of their selection criteria, leading numerous people to speculate about the extent to which local politics might affect decisions made by Sundance, an organization known for promoting diversity. Cox is presently considering legislation that aims to prohibit the display of specific flags at educational institutions and public facilities, such as the LGBTQ pride flag.
Organizers stated that Boulder’s “inclusive atmosphere matches the spirit that the Sundance Film Festival has cultivated in Park City.”
This process began 18 months ago, and our family has resided in Utah for four decades. Therefore, political considerations did not influence this decision,” Burnough stated on Thursday. “The core reason behind it all comes down to natural progression. This is ultimately what shaped our course of action. We didn’t consistently analyze which bills were moving through or whether they might get approved.
As its present contract approaches its end date, the
search for a different host city
commenced vigorously in April 2024. The starting lineup of six candidates comprised Atlanta, Louisville, Kentucky, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
What Sundance represents for Park City, and the broader film industry, remains significant.
Before wrapping up, Sundance will host one final event in Park City in January 2026.
The Sundance Film Festival will retain its identity regardless of location. Our objective remains unchanged,” stated Hernandez. “It’s a festival focused on worldwide discoveries. The thrilling aspect of Boulder is that we have an opportunity to develop here.
Throughout the years, Sundance in Park City grew into a leading marketplace for American cinema, attracting studio executives and celebrity figures clad in parkas to the Wasatch Mountains each January. This festival has been instrumental in launching numerous filmmakers over time, including Steven Soderbergh (“Sex, Lies and Videotape”) and Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”). The event achieved its first Oscar win for Best Picture when
“CODA”
in 2022.
Sundance equated significant financial success for
Utah and Park City
In 2024, the festival welcomed approximately 72,840 people attending in person, including about 24,200 individuals who traveled from outside the state. The event’s economic impact analysis indicated that these out-of-state guests contributed around $106.4 million to Utah’s economy. Overall, the festival’s total economic influence was calculated at roughly $132 million, supporting 1,730 local jobs and generating $69.7 million in income for Utah workers.
However, the festival also faced conflicts with nearby ski resorts – which are another significant source of income for Park City – since attendees occupied many hotel rooms, leaving the slopes almost deserted throughout the busy skiing period lasting two weeks. While the event benefited certain local enterprises, it posed challenges for others. As the festival spanned ten days, escalating rental expenses became an increasingly important factor for those planning to attend.
The three leading cities each allocated substantial funds to attract the prestigious festival. Cincinnati dedicated $2.5 million for Sundance and an additional $2.5 million contingent upon selection. Salt Lake City proposed a bid of $3.5 million to keep Sundance within Utah’s borders.
The move of Sundance means that now two major U.S. film festivals take place in Colorado. The Telluride Film Festival, located farther west within the state, occurs at the end of August.
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Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum and film writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report. Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.
