Sundance Film Festival Relocating from Park City to Boulder

      The Sundance Film Festival, regarded as one of the most esteemed film festivals, will be moving from its long-time location in Park City, Utah to Boulder, Colorado beginning in 2027, the festival announced on Thursday.

      In a statement, the festival expressed that Boulder "offers small-town charm along with an engaged community, unique natural beauty, and a lively arts scene, making it the perfect place for the festival's growth."

      Robert Redford, the founding president of the Sundance Institute, remarked, “I established the Sundance Institute with a promise to discover and nurture independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival providing a platform for stories to reach wider audiences and diversify the landscape."

      He added, “This mission is even more vital today and will continue to be our central principle. I cannot adequately express my genuine gratitude toward Park City, the state of Utah, and everyone in the Utah community who has contributed to building this organization.”

      In recent years, Sundance has been feeling increasingly congested in Park City, a small town with a population of fewer than 10,000 that becomes overwhelmed each January when Hollywood arrives.

      While Sundance injects much-needed revenue into the area, as stars fill hotel rooms and ski lodges, the festival's progressive ethos has seemed out of sync with the more conservative atmosphere of Utah: the announcement of the relocation coincided with Utah Governor Spencer Cox's deliberation on whether to sign or veto a bill banning the Pride Flag from government buildings in the state.

      However, the festival's announcement did not cite any political or policy issues as reasons for leaving Park City.

      Imagining the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder

      Similar to Park City, which has hosted the festival since 1981, Boulder is a mountainous town with a vibrant film scene.

      The Sundance Institute stated that the festival will focus on downtown Boulder, utilizing its variety of theaters and venues, and incorporating areas around the pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall. It will also include specific locations on the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder campus, all framed by the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

      "We are excited to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado and collaborate with our new partners at the Sundance Institute to facilitate a smooth transition to Boulder in 2027,” said Colorado film commissioner Donald Zuckerman. “We couldn’t ask for a better partner to enhance filmmaking and storytelling in Colorado, and we look forward to celebrating the many creative achievements that lie ahead."

      Cincinnati, Ohio was the other potential finalist for the move, though it could have remained in its current venues, including those in Park City and nearby Salt Lake City, Utah.

      “This decision was made after a thorough assessment of essential elements needed to establish our festival. During this process, it became evident that Boulder is the optimal place to develop our festival’s future, representing a significant strategic advancement in its natural progression,” said Ebs Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute board.

      “We hold immense appreciation for the finalist cities and their communities—Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Salt Lake City, Utah—who all submitted exceptionally strong proposals and dedicated their time, enthusiasm, and commitment throughout the process. We deeply respect and thank these communities for their hard work and partnership over the last year. We also greatly appreciate the unwavering support from our staff and board as we have embarked on this journey together.”

      The Sundance Film Festival is the largest artist program under the nonprofit Sundance Institute, which will continue its mission of “supporting artists and connecting their work with audiences,” as stated by the festival. “The festival serves as the preeminent gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices, fresh perspectives, and a celebration of independent film and storytelling.”

      Main image: Boulder, Colorado. Courtesy of Sundance.