
So long, Park City. Sundance Film Festival to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027
After a yearlong search, the Sundance Film Festival announced Thursday that its new home will be Boulder, Colorado, keeping Sundance in the mountains but moving it out of Park City, the Utah ski town that had for decades provided the premier independent film gathering its picturesque snowy backdrop.
Organizers said that after 40 years in the mountains, the festival had outgrown Park City, and lacked the necessary theaters or affordable housing to continue hosting what has become one of North America's most sprawling movie events. Sundance had narrowed down the options to Salt Lake City (with a smaller presence in Park City), Cincinnati and Boulder.
Boulder emerged as their choice due to its close proximity to nature, its small-town charm and an engaged community that, organizer said, provides Sundance the ideal setting for its future.
'Boulder is a tech town, it's a college town, it's an arts town, and it's a mountain town,' Amanda Kelso, acting chief executive of the Sundance Institute, said in an interview Thursday from Boulder. 'At 100,000 people, a larger town than Park City, it gives us the space to expand.'
Kelso, Sundance Institute board chair Ebs Burnough and Eugene Hernandez, director of the festival and head of programming, spoke shortly before announcing the festival's move in Boulder. Local officials, who helped lure Sundance with $34 million in tax credits over 10 years, applauded the decision.
'Here in our state we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator and important contributor to our thriving culture,' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (Dem.) said in a statement.
Reacting to the decision, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (Rep.) said Thursday that Sundance will come to regret leaving Utah.
'As I've said from the beginning, we wanted Sundance to stay,' Cox said in a statement. 'We made that clear to their leadership and put together a highly competitive package. Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make, but I believe it's a mistake and that, one day, they'll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage.'
A changed endorsed by Sundance founder Robert Redford
A shift from Park City to Boulder means Sundance stays at altitude but gives up being located in an expensive ski town. The mile-high Colorado city set in the foothills of the Rockies also maintains a sense of surrounding nature — something organizers stressed as a factor in their decision. Boulder's four-block pedestrian mall on Pearl Street, with nearby theaters, could also provide a similar sense of central hub like Park City's Main Street. The Macky Auditorium, on the University of Colorado campus, is expected to be a central stage for Sundance.
The Sundance Institute was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, who sought a location far from Hollywood to foster independent voices in film. In 1984, the institute took over the Sundance Film Festival, but the nonprofit's mission of helping young filmmakers grow through labs and workshops — Redford's real passion — continued year-round away from the festival.
The 88-year-old Redford, who attended the University of Colorado in Boulder in his youth, gave the move his blessing.
'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,' Redford said in a statement. 'What we've created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival.'
How Sundance chose its new home
The festival made 'ethos and equity values' one of its criteria, prompting many to wonder how much local politics would influence the choice by Sundance, which emphasizes inclusivity. Gov. Cox is currently weighing a bill that would ban the flying of certain flags at schools and government buildings, including the LGBTQ pride flag.
Organizers said Boulder's 'welcoming environment aligns with the ethos the Sundance Film Festival developed in Park City.'
'This process started 18 months ago and we've been in Utah for 40 years. So politics really didn't guide the process,' Burnough said Thursday. 'It was really and truly about evolution. That's where it landed. We didn't constantly spend time examining what bill was going forward or may or may not be signed.'
With its current contract expiration date looming, the hunt for a new host city began in earnest in April 2024. The initial group of six contenders also included Atlanta, Louisville, Kentucky and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
What Sundance has meant for Park City, and the film world
Before packing up, Sundance will have one last edition in Park City in January 2026.
'The Sundance Film Festival will be the Sundance Film Festival wherever we go. What's consistent is our mission,' said Hernandez. 'This is a festival of global discovery. What's exciting about Boulder is this is a place we can build.'
Over the years, Sundance in Park City swelled into a premier marketplace for American film, drawing studio executives and parka-wearing celebrities into the Wasatch mountains every January. It helped launch countless filmmakers over the years, from Steven Soderbergh ('Sex, Lies and Videotape') to Ryan Coogler ('Fruitvale Station'). Sundance scored its first best picture winner with 'CODA' in 2022.
Sundance meant big business for Utah and Park City. In 2024, the festival had some 72,840 in-person attendees, 24,200 of whom were coming from out of state. According to the festival's economic impact report, out-of-state visitors spent an estimated $106.4 million in Utah during the festival. Its total economic impact was estimated to be $132 million, with 1,730 jobs for Utah residents and $69.7 million in Utah wages.
But the festival had also sparred with local ski resorts — Park City's other major money maker — as festivalgoers filled the hotels and left the slopes virtually empty for two weeks during peak ski season. The festival was a boon to some local businesses, but a hindrance to others. For visitors flying into the 10-day festival, ballooning rental costs increasingly factored into attending.
All three top contenders budgeted millions to lure the lucrative festival to their city. Cincinnati set aside $2.5 million for Sundance and another $2.5 million to come if it was chosen. Salt Lake City offered Sundance $3.5 million to stay in Utah.
Sundance's relocation puts two of the top U.S. film festivals in Colorado. The Telluride Film Festival, held further west in the state, runs in late August.
Originally Published: March 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM CDT
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Geek Tyrant
4 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Great Trailer for This Year's Sundance Audience Award Winning Film EAST OF WALL — GeekTyrant
The full trailer has been released for the film East of Wall , a film shot in the Badlands, from writer and director Kate Beecroft in her directorial debut. The movie debuted at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it won the Audience Award in the innovative Next section. The film stars Tabatha Zimiga, Porshia Zimiga, Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle, and it's described as an "authentic portrait of female resilience in the 'New West' inspired and played by the women and girls who live it." The full synopsis reads: ' East of Wall is an authentic portrait of female resilience in the 'New West' inspired and played by the women and girls who live it. 'Set in the Badlands of South Dakota, Tabatha, a young, rebellious rancher, who rescues and resells horses, must make hard decisions to deal with her fractured family, financial uncertainty, and unresolved grief, all while providing refuge for a group of wayward neighborhood teens.' This looks like a fantastic original story, and I look forward to watching it. Check out the trailer below, and watch East of Wall when it hits theaters on August 15th.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein Judge Declares Mistrial on Rape Charge
The judge in Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes retrial declared a mistrial on the rape charge after the jury foreperson refused to continue deliberations following an alleged threat by another juror. The majority-female jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the count of third-degree rape involving Jessica Mann. The jury had previously delivered its verdict on the two other charges against Weinstein: he was convicted Wednesday of committing a criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley but acquitted of sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola. More from Variety Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexual Assault After Tensions Explode on New York Jury Amanda Seyfried Grossed Out She Invited 'Dictator' Harvey Weinstein to Past Sundance Premiere: 'It's Just the Way It Was - We All Needed Him' Harvey Weinstein Says He Has 'Regrets' and 'Acted Immorally' Ahead of New York Retrial Verdict: 'But Never Illegal, Never Criminal' After informing the jurors that he is putting an end to their deliberations and dismissing them, Judge Curtis Farber said they were 'disappointed.' 'They don't understand why the foreperson bowed out,' Farber told the attorneys inside the courtroom, adding that the other jurors were 'hopeful' they would reach a verdict on the final count. The mistrial on Weinstein's remaining charge comes after a weeks-long trial that began in April, during which three women testified about the alleged sexual assaults committed by the former Hollywood producer. Weinstein faced two counts of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and one count of third-degree rape. After the partial verdict was read on Wednesday, the jury foreperson in Weinstein's retrial revealed that the jury had reached a unanimous verdict on the charges related to Haley and Sokola on Friday of last week. Tensions remained high, though, among the jurors when deliberating the third-degree rape count. The foreperson had spoken privately with Judge Farber and the attorneys about the situation earlier on Wednesday. Back in the courtroom, Farber summarized what was discussed during the private meeting, saying that the foreperson was 'not going to change his position — whatever that position is.' 'He did indicate that at least one other juror made comments to the effect of 'I'll meet you outside one day,' and there's yelling and screaming,' the judge said. Weinstein was found guilty of sexually abusing Haley and Mann in his 2020 New York trial. He was serving a 23-year sentence until those convictions were overturned in April 2024. Weinstein pleaded not guilty to all charges in his retrial; both Haley and Mann testified against him again. In their testimonies, Haley alleged that Weinstein forcibly sexually assaulted her at his apartment in 2006, while Mann accused him of raping her at a hotel in 2013. Sokola, who did not testify in Weinstein's 2020 trial, was first identified by the prosecution during opening arguments in late April. In her testimony, Sokola described two alleged sexual assaults by Weinstein: one in 2002, when she was 16, and another in a Manhattan hotel in 2006 — the latter being the incident for which Weinstein was charged in the retrial. Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison after being convicted of the charge related to Haley. He is still serving a separate 16-year prison sentence following his 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar

Elle
8 hours ago
- Elle
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner Are Engaged
Dua Lipa has found her match in actor Callum Turner. The couple is engaged, British Vogue reports. Lipa sparked engagement rumors during Christmas when she posted Instagram photos of herself with a ring on her left ring finger. The couple was first romantically linked in January 2024. At the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, Turner spoke about his hope to be with Lipa for the long haul. A journalist asked Turner whom he would spend an eternity with (because he has an upcoming film called Eternity). He replied with a laugh, 'my girlfriend,' per Us Weekly. Lipa and Turner have not hidden their relationship, as Lipa has shared photos of Turner on Instagram regularly. They have, however, chosen not to discuss the details of their love life in interviews. In March 2024, a source spoke to Us Weekly about their relationship, sharing rare details about Lipa and Turner's bond. The source noted how special their connection has been, saying, 'Callum is really the first serious relationship she's had in the past few years.' The insider added, 'Dua and Callum spend almost all their time together and are nearly inseparable.' At that point, they had 'met each other's families. They're very serious about one another.' Turner has treated Lipa with 'nothing but respect, and he always makes her feel safe when she's in his presence,' the source said, adding that while she is still a 'very independent' person, 'she's happy to let him take the lead [when they're together]. They have a very balanced energy, and Dua couldn't be happier than she is with Callum.'