The Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder after four decades in Park City, Utah. Starting in 2027, the city of Boulder will serve as the festival host after coming out on top of a nationwide search for a new home. The Sundance Institute announced the changing venue on Thursday.
The Sundance Institute decided to let the agreement with Park City expire in 2026 and open it up to nationwide offers. Last year, they selected three finalists: Boulder, Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Salt Lake City/Park City combined offer.
“The Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 preserves and builds on its four decade journey,” said Eugene Hernandez, Sundance Film Festival director and head of public programming. “Together we continue to create a Festival that acts as a vibrant space for independent films and filmmakers to shine. A place where each January, a community of artists, industry, and audiences can gather to discover what’s new in global storytelling.”
The selection comes after a yearlong search that has kept the film and local communities on their toes. Sundance is responsible for putting some big films out in the open and drawing economic benefits to the Rocky Mountain region.
Last year, the Sundance Film Festival drew 72,840 attendees to Park City. According to the Sundance Institute, during 2024’s festival out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million in Utah. They measured an estimated $132 million in state GDP. The festival generated an estimated 1,730 jobs for Utah residents and resulted in $69.7 million in wages. It created $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue.
Boulder’s agreement with Sundance will last until at least 2036.
According to the Colorado Sun, Boulder’s request included a “one-time, $1.5 million grant, $250,000 from the Colorado Office of Film, TV and Media over five years, and one-time contributions of $50,000 from the Colorado Tourism Office and $25,000 from Colorado Creative Industries.”
Actor and Sundance Institute founder and president Robert Redford said in Thursday’s announcement, “I founded the Sundance Institute with a commitment to discovering and developing independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival serving as the platform for stories to help expand audiences and broaden the landscape.”
Redford founded the festival in 1981 to move films from Hollywood and inspire and sustain more independent films and filmmakers.
“That mission remains even more critical today and will continue to be our core principle. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization. What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining,” he said.
The introduction of Sundance to Colorado is set alongside HB25-1005, a bill that would give $34 million in tax incentives to globally recognized film festivals.
“The Tax Incentive for Film Festivals is advancing through the Colorado legislature with bipartisan support, paving the way for today’s historic announcement and demonstrating our state’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado. This exciting news will elevate our creative industries and create new jobs for Coloradans for years to come,” said Colorado Sen. Judy Amabile.
Part of Boulder’s selection also, honestly, comes down to the vibe. Park City is a picturesque mountain town, quirky and close to nature. It’s also about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City. Boulder is backlit by the Flat Irons, hosts a vibrant outdoor community, and is about 45 minutes away from Denver.
Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute acting CEO, said “Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town. It is a place where the festival can build and flourish. This is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we invite everyone to be part of our community and to be entertained and inspired. We can’t imagine a better fit than Boulder.”
The Sundance Institute said it envisions the heart of the festival centered around Boulder’s downtown, utilizing different theaters and venues while using space around the Pearl Street mall, which is pedestrian-only street. The institute noted it would also be working with Boulder’s host committee to enhance infrastructure and local accommodations.
Sundance, and most film festivals in general, offers unique opportunities for independent filmmakers to get discovered and get their films distributed. It is an amuse-bouche of who’s who in the independent market. Writers, directors, producers, and executives mingle at screenings and deals are made.
“As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. This move will ensure that the festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the festival there,” Redford said.