After more than forty years of calling Park City, Utah, home, the Sundance Institute is currently considering other cities across the United States to host the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027.
Along with Park City, the cities under consideration as of July 19, according to a Sundance Institute statement, are Atlanta, Georgia; Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“We believe these six finalists allow us the best opportunity to not only secure a sustainable future for our festival, but also to build upon its legacy while continuing to support the next generation of storytellers and highlight bold new works of art,” Sundance Institute Board Chair Ebs Burnough and Sundance Institute Acting CEO Amanda Kelso said in the statement.
Director of the Sundance Film Festival Eugene Hernandez said each city has exhibited intriguing opportunities for the festival, convincing the institute to indulge more in what each city has to offer.
“Each of these cities has a vibrant creative ecosystem, either expanding or established, and has enabled creativity to flourish in their cities through their support of the arts,” he said in the statement. “These cities understand our ethos (and) are aligned with our key values.”
The new location will be officially announced in late 2024 or early 2025, according to a Sundance Institute statement.
Dan Howard, the vice president of communications for Visit Park City, expressed how much Park City has valued Sundance for the past forty years.
“Sundance brings Park City cultural depth through its unique storytelling,” Howard said. “It impacts our local community and resident engagement in a way that would be impossible to replicate.”
In the hopes of keeping the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, the Utah Host Committee proposed their plan “Two Cities. One Experience,” according to a Utah Film Commission statement. This plan will use additional venues for the festival in Park City and Salt Lake City.
“Sundance is an incredibly important part of this community. Having 40 years’ worth of amazing independent film showcased right here in Park City is truly special,” Park City Mayor Nann Worel said. “That’s why from the beginning, this has been an all-hands-on-deck approach to keep Sundance in Utah and that is reflected in this exciting new ‘Two Cities. One Experience’ vision.”
The local governments within each newly considered city expressed their gratitude for being chosen as a finalist to host the Sundance Film Festival.
“Santa Fe and the Sundance Film Festival have long shared a deep appreciation for diversity, inclusion and artistic expression,” Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber said in a statement. “From our rich cultural heritage and thriving artist communities to the innovative voices championed at Sundance, there’s a natural synergy between our values. We believe that Santa Fe would provide a welcoming and inspiring platform for the stories and filmmakers that Sundance celebrates.”
The official government website of Boulder said the festival will establish new jobs, bring tourists, support small businesses and promote creative industries within Colorado.
“With the beautiful backdrop of the Flatirons, Boulder’s historical ties to the Redford Family, and the capacity to support a growing, inclusive festival,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in the statement, “we are confident that Boulder, Colorado is the right home for the Sundance Film Festival.”
According to the official government website of Louisville, the Sundance Institute thoroughly evaluated each city’s capabilities and values to ensure that the festival and independent artists will be properly supported.
“Kentucky has a rich history of storytelling and will whole-heartedly embrace Sundance’s 40-year tradition of exploratory filmmaking,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in the statement. “I’m proud to have Louisville — a vibrant, diverse city full of talent — represent our state in this very competitive process, and our entire commonwealth is united behind the effort to welcome Sundance to its new Kentucky home.”
The Sundance Institute said they began their exploration of other possible host locations in April since Park City’s contract with the festival will be up for renewal beginning in 2027.
Hernandez said this search for a host for the 2027 festival and beyond stems from their need to consider the long-term future of the festival to continue to support independent artists as a nonprofit organization in a Sundance Film Festival statement on July 22.
“We remain deeply grateful to Park City and the State of Utah for their ongoing partnership and are proud of the legacy we’ve built together over these past four decades,” Hernandez said. “We look forward to being with you in Utah again in January.”
The festival will still take place in Park City and Salt Lake City in 2025 and 2026.
The 2025 festival is scheduled for Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. In-person Early Bird tickets for the 2025 festival are sold out, but those interested can sign up to be notified via email when more tickets go on sale this fall.