The Sundance Film Festival isn't necessarily based in Park City, Utah. Sundance Institute announced Wednesday that it has begun exploring the possibility of holding the independent film festival elsewhere in the United States starting in 2027.
The 2025 and 2026 festivals will continue to be held in Park City and Salt Lake City. However, as the current contract is up for renewal in 2027, the Institute is taking steps to consider all options through a Request for Information and Request for Proposals process, which will begin immediately. The final selection, which could be Park City, is expected to be announced by early 2025.
“We are at a special time for our festivals and the global film community, and with this quest to renew our agreement, we are committed to how best we can continue to sustainably serve our community while preserving the essence of the festival experience.” “You can consider it.” Festival Director Eugene Hernandez.
“I want to ensure that the festival continues to thrive culturally, operationally and financially as it has for 40 years,” Hernandez said.
Malia Obama made her Sundance debut with the short film “The Heart.”
Park City has been home to the festival founded by Robert Redford for 40 years. Every January, the film festival and its sponsors take over many of the small town's venues and turn them into film festival hubs, with theaters in places like libraries and recreation centers. Shops along the city's charming Main Street have become exclusive lounges for actors and filmmakers, and restaurants host cast parties after international film premieres.
Mayor Nan Worrell said she doesn't want the festival to leave Park City, which has grown into a world-famous mountain town since first being put on the map at the Sundance Film Festival decades ago. .
“We are grateful for our partnership with Sundance and hope the festival will be here for another 40 years,” Worrell said.
She pledged Wednesday to work with state leaders and local partners to discuss the festival's future. Last year's hybrid festival generated just over $118 million in revenue for Utah, according to Sundance's 2023 Economic Impact Report.
Sundance has long competed with local ski resorts, Park City's other major source of revenue. More than 86,000 festival attendees pack hotels and the slopes are virtually empty for two weeks during peak ski season.
The festival has made concessions over the years, including moving screenings to nearby Salt Lake City and slightly changing its dates, to help ski resorts generate revenue during holiday weekends. But like any resort, you can't afford to miss out on the first few weeks of winter. Sundance positions itself as the first major film festival of each calendar year, which means it's the first destination for many great new projects from around the world.
Deer Valley Resort, home to Park City's skiers-only slopes, said Wednesday that it considers its relationship with Sundance to be mutually beneficial and strongly supports keeping the festival in the city.
“Like Deer Valley, Sundance is an integral part of Park City and all of Utah,” spokeswoman Emily Summers said in a statement. “We support the film festival and its long history within the community. “
Sundance has also been a launching pad for many top filmmakers over the years, including their first Best Picture winner, CODA, and the last three documentary winners, 20 Days in Mariupol, which ended up with Oscar nominees and others. We have hosted a premiere screening of the winners. Navalny” and “Summer of Soul.” The Utah festival received a record number of entries last year.
“We are excited about the vitality of independent filmmaking and look forward to the continued discovery and support of the independent artists and audiences our festival is known for,” said Sundance Board Chair Ebbs Burnough. We want to ensure that.”
Redford, who stepped back from the Sundance spotlight several years ago, expressed concern in 2016 that the festival as it stands had outgrown Park City, and suggested ways to evolve. was considering. He and his daughter Amy Redford, who serves on the board, are involved in the process announced Wednesday.
Last month, the institute's CEO Joana Vicente resigned after two and a half years. Board member Amanda Kelso has been appointed acting CEO, but her permanent replacement has not been announced.
