ark City, Utah has hosted the Sundance Film Festival since 1981 and, while Sundance remains in Park City this year and next, that’s set to change from 2027. The festival is considering three cities to host the film festival’s from 2027 to 2036. When evaluating the contenders, Sundance considered the city’s values, the infrastructure needed to support the event, and how the city would further encourage independent filmmakers. Sundance eventually narrowed the selection to three finalists: Boulder, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah. After 2026, Park City will no longer be the home of the Sundance Film Festival.
Why has the Sundance Institute decided to move from its long–time home in Park City? Sundance’s contract with Park City expires after 2026, leaving the festival free to explore new locations. There are several factors in favor of the move. One of these is financial. Sundance’s revenues were down in 2022 and 2023 from the impacts of Covid, and the festival’s plans to expand don’t match with Park City residents’ general vision for the city’s future—which is focused on expanding ski resorts, not the festival. Sundance’s expansion plans include a desire for greater inclusion and accessibility for attendees and filmmakers, but doing so requires significant infrastructure that is lacking at Park City—but could be more readily available in larger cities.
Given Utah’s determination to keep the festival in the state, Salt Lake City seems to be a frontrunner. In fact, at the festival’s inception in 1978, Sundance was initially held in Salt Lake City as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival before its move to Park City. The recent festivals have also successfully included Salt Lake City as a satellite location. Suppose the festival moves to Salt Lake City. In that case, Park City will become a satellite location instead, allowing the history of Park City and the festival to continue without putting pressure on the town. Moving to Salt Lake City also provides solutions for the festival’s attendance as there is a bigger airport and better access to transportation. The size of Salt Lake City would also make venue spaces cheaper and enhance accessibility. Yet increasingly stark differences in social values between Sundance and the state of Utah could make Salt Lake City a bad fit. Utah’s recently passed bill HB0257—often referred to as the “bathroom ban”—has drawn criticism from fans, while the festival itself has twice spoken about safety measures for LGBTQ+ attendees after the bill’s adoption. Thus, while Utah would surely love to keep Sundance in state—the festival has great economic impact on the state—it could be they’ve grown too far apart in values.
Boulder, Colorado appears to be a strong contender. The Sundance Institute is already involved in the area, having built some of its labs in Colorado near Boulder. Boulder also boasts a large population with great transportation and a large airport, which addresses Sundance’s attendance and accessibility concerns. Colorado’s values also align more closely with those of Sundance. However, there is some disagreement as to whether Boulder has enough venue space and supporting space, particularly given Sundance holds some events and workshops year–round. Another potential complication: the Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF). The popularity of BIFF arises from the Boulder community’s passion for independent arts. On the other hand, there are questions whether the city can accommodate two major film festivals that are held only a few months apart. BIFF co–founder Kathy Beeck voiced her enthusiasm for the possibility of Sundance selecting Boulder. She did, however, acknowledge logistics for conference rescheduling to accommodate could be difficult.
Cincinnati, Ohio made a compelling bid for its finalist spot by rallying local businesses and the community’s love for film to quickly and effectively create a video entry. Cincinnati regularly shows its love of the arts, directly supporting the film industry and thus proving capable of continuing to support independent filmmakers through the Sundance Institute. The city has also proven itself capable of successfully hosting large events. However, a Cincinnati victory would make it something of a “dark horse.” The city does not currently have the infrastructure to support the festival, with only one theater in downtown Cincinnati. Compared to Salt Lake City and Boulder, Cincinnati also has a smaller airport, which could prove enough reason for Sundance to prioritize its other two finalists.
No matter where the Sundance Institute selects as its new home, the film industry must hope the festival survives the change. Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, argues Sundance leaving Utah would be its “death knell.” Governor Cox argued that while Sundance has a great economic impact on the state, that Sundance’s history is so tied to Utah that if it moves out of state, “I don’t think Sundance will be fine.”
Whatever happens, the future success of Sundance is something we should all care about. For one, the Sundance Institute’s support of independent film provides hope for the film industry in the face of Hollywood’s ongoing turmoil. Similarly, Sundance provides key trendsetting intel for the film industry. Potential buyers attending Sundance get a first glance at the types of films being produced and the audience’s reactions to these genres and themes, shaping the year of film to come. The festival also speaks to the need for strengthening community as a part of developing resilience, as evidenced by the Institute’s decision to continue the 2025 festival amid the Los Angeles fires. As the Sundance Institute stands on the precipice of change after struggling to build attendance and remain relevant in recent years, one can only hope the festival will land on fertile ground.
This post was originally published on here
