The Sundance Film Festival has narrowed the search for a new home to three finalists.
One option remains a combination of Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, the latter the base for more than 40 years. The other two, Boulder, Colo., and Cincinnati, would be the nation’s premier showcase for independent films and lay new roots, the Sundance Institute said Thursday.
Eugene Hernandez, festival director and head of public programming, said each of the finalist cities “showed us the mix of exciting possibilities, values and logistics needed to produce a vibrant, inviting and inclusive festival.”
For now, Sundance will continue to operate out of Park City for the 2025 and 2026 festivals. The changes won’t take effect until the 2027 festival. If the organization stays with Utah, the festival would be centered in Salt Lake City, with some elements in Park City.
Local leaders also all issued statements. Colorado Governor Jared Polis said Boulder is “the next natural home” for the festival, praising Colorado’s creative communities. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Film Cincinnati head Kristen Schlotman spoke about the city of Ohio’s commitment to the arts and its ability to provide a “dynamic, walkable and accessible new venue.” Finally, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Park City Mayor Nann Worel and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said they would like to “forge an even stronger bond to inspire artists and take the festival experience to the next level.”
The festival, founded by Robert Redford, has been a launching pad for many top filmmakers over the years, from Quentin Tarantino to Ryan Coogler. It also premiered many eventual Oscar nominees and winners, including “CODA,” their first Best Picture winner, and the past three documentary winners “20 Days in Mariupol,” “Navalny” and “Summer of Soul.”
According to Sundance’s 2023 economic impact report, last year’s hybrid festival generated just over $118 million for the state of Utah. But there are growing concerns that it has outgrown its mountainside ski resort. The festival has long partnered with local ski areas — Park City’s other big moneymaker — as more than 86,000 festival-goers fill the hotels and leave the slopes virtually empty for two weeks during the peak season.
In April, the Sundance Institute began exploring host cities outside its longtime home base. The three finalists were selected from a list of six unveiled in July, including Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Atlanta.
A final decision is expected in early 2025.
