The Sundance Film Fest will relocate to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, ending its four decades run in Park City, Utah.
The Sundance Film Fest will relocate to Boulder, Colorado in 2027, ending its four decades run in Park City, Utah.
The festival reached 10 year-deal with city officials after extensive search for a new home.
The snowy haven prevailed against two other finalists: Cincinnati, Ohio and Salt Lake City and Park City.
In selecting Boulder, the festival’s leadership cited the fact that it is a college town as well as a tech hub. It also highlighted the community’s natural beauty, something that has been a key component of Sundance, which has always boasted itself as an opportunity to watch great movies against an alpine backdrop.
“One of Robert Redford’s founding principles is this notion of making sure that the festival has a sense of place,” said Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute’s acting CEO. “When you walk around Boulder is we are surrounded by this breathtaking Flat Iron Mountain Range, and it’s truly an incredible vibe. When you’re walking from theater to theater, you’ll get this opportunity to metabolize what you just watched while convening in nature.”
The city has earned the nickname “People’s Republic of Boulder,” which one site attributes to “unique character, progressive values and engaged citizenry.” It’s known as eco-friendly and open to artists and countercultures.
The move to Boulder begins a new, uncertain era for the film festival. Park City has become synonymous with Sundance, having served as its home since 1985.
Over the years, it has hosted the premieres of films like “Reservoir Dogs,” “Sex, Lies and Videotape,” and “Little Miss Sunshine” that ignited the indie revolution of the 1990s. This helped redefine indie moviemaking as edgier, sexier and more subversive.
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In April 2024, The Sundance Institute, the nonprofit behind the festival, announced that it was seeking proposals from “viable locations” to host the festival when its current contract expired with Park City in 2026.
Over 100 potential cities and town expressed interest, 13 of which submitted proposals.
After several rounds, three finalists emerged. One of these was Cincinnati, Ohio and the other was a proposal that would keep Sundance in Utah.
Sundance appointed a task force to vet potential new home bases. Amy Redford, the daughter of the festival’s founder Redford, was part of that group. The team evaluated the various locations’ infrastructure and event capabilities. The task force offered its recommendations to Sundance’s board, which voted on Wednesday.
Robert Redford expressed his gratitude to the state of Utah, while saying the organization’s move was a necessary step. “What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining,” he said. “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 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.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said that his state was “thrilled” to welcome Sundance. “Here we celebrate the arts and film industry as key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture,” he said. “With the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we expect even more jobs, huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants.”
The festival’s leadership declined to detail what tax breaks and other financial incentives Boulder offered it to relocate and how those compared to the other finalists.
