The Sundance Film Festival has announced that it has narrowed down its search for a new home to three finalist cities. The options include a combination of Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, where the festival has been based for over 40 years. The other two finalists are Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati.
The festival's director mentioned that each of the finalist cities has shown potential in terms of exciting possibilities, values, and logistics needed to produce a vibrant and inclusive Festival. Sundance will continue to operate out of Park City for the 2025 and 2026 festivals, with changes set to take effect for the 2027 festival.
If the festival remains in Utah, it would center itself in Salt Lake City, with some elements still in Park City. Local leaders from the finalist cities have expressed their enthusiasm for potentially hosting the festival, highlighting their respective cities' creative communities, dedication to the arts, and accessibility.
The Sundance Film Festival, founded by Robert Redford, has been a significant platform for emerging filmmakers and has premiered numerous Oscar-nominated and winning films over the years. Last year's hybrid festival generated over $118 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2023 economic impact report.
Concerns have been raised about the festival outgrowing its current location in Park City, leading to the exploration of new host cities. The three finalists were selected from a list of six potential cities, including Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Atlanta. A final decision on the new host city is expected in early 2025.
