Latest news with #EugeneHernandez
CBS News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Colorado officials say Sundance Film Festival expected to bring economic boost to state
Coming soon to Boulder: the Sundance Film Festival. A decision that those behind the announcement say has been years in the making, and one that could bring an economic boost to the state. Festival Director Eugene Hernandez said while evaluating different bids one thing stood out in Boulder. "What we experienced, and we've experienced all the way through the process until right now, is passion. Passion for Colorado, passion for this community, passion for the arts and arts community and film and we felt that," he said Adding to the passion and culture was the scenic appeal and support they received from the state in the form of tax incentives. Changes that are part of a bill now moving through the legislature. State Representative Brianna Titone is one of the bill sponsors "There's a bit of hesitance to give tax credits to one particular place for this festival, but we know, based on what's happened in Utah, that it does expand beyond borders of the city where the event is held," she said. In 2024, Titone said they found the festival in Utah created more than 17 hundred jobs, attracted 24 thousand out-of-state visitors and brought in more than $100 million in gross domestic product. Looking over the 10 years the festival would be in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said the economic impact to the state is to be over $2 billion. "It's rooted in Boulder, but it's really the entire state that will benefit," Polis said during a press conference about the decision on Thursday. The festival's monumental move comes after more than 40 years in Park City, Utah, a home they said they've outgrown. That raises a question for some. Is Boulder a big enough stage? Hernandez believes it is a perfect fit for future growth. "What I found and what we found here in Boulder are venues of all shapes and sizes that align so well with our festival. Our festival is a festival of global discovery, bringing together artists all around the world. Films big and small will match up so perfectly with the venues right here in Boulder," he said.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's Boulder! Sundance Exits Utah For 2027 Move To Blue State Colorado
After over 40 years, the Sundance Film Festival is leaving Park City for a new and lucrative home in Boulder, Colorado. As Deadline has been telling you for months, the Rocky Mountain metropolis has been in pole position over the United Utah bid and the efforts of Cincinnati, Ohio since the Robert Redford founded cinema celebration revealed the trio of finalists last September. More from Deadline Final Word On Sundance 2025: Fest Director Eugene Hernandez Dispels Naysayer But Addresses Challenges In Park City Postmortem Sundance Film Festival 2025: All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews Sundance's Future In Utah Looks Bleak As Park City Mayor Laments Anti-LGBTQ+ Flag Bill Coming out of two consecutive years of Sundance being canceled for in-person screenings due to the pandemic, an overwhelmed Park City, seismic shifts in the industry, and Sundance Institute executive musical chairs, the festival was looking for dramatic reset with a new location, as Deadline exclusively reported in July 2023. To that, the official unveiling in April last year that Sundance was taking bids from contenders across the nation was an inevitability — as, in many ways, was the selection of Boulder for a 10-year long contract. 'Part of the decision-making process was around opportunity for growth,' bluntly said Acting Sundance Institute CEO Amanda Kelso to Deadline today. 'That is also an important factor for us. Knowing that we can be in a town that has 100,000 people means that it has more venues, more spaces, and more opportunities in how we can be expansive of the festival moving forward.' Thursday's announcement is in accordance with the final decision timeline festival director Eugene Hernandez told Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. on February 22. Additionally, sealing the deal, the Sundance Institute board voted earlier this week to move the festival to Boulder, we've learned. With a financially deep and culturally deep proposal, Boulder, which houses of the University of Colorado, put $34 million in tax incentives on the table over the decade of the new deal. Directly facing the challenges and inconvenience that have hobbled Sundance in Park City in recent years, the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau also detailed in their winning pitch a plethora of venues and lodgings that aim to make Sundance much more accessible and affordable for streamer and studio bosses as well as first time filmmakers going to Sundance on their own dime. 'Colorado is thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to its new home in Boulder starting in 2027,' Governor Jared Polis said today with news of the big move. '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,' the two-term and openly gay Democrat added. 'Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants. Thank you to the Sundance Institute and all of the partners like the City of Boulder, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and I also want to thank the bipartisan legislators and leadership who have worked tirelessly to make this possible.' The successful presence of the Sundance Institute's hot ticket Directors Lab in Boulder in May 2024 seems to have also helped pave the road to the festival ending up in the city, we hear. At 2.5 hours from LA via plane, Boulder may prove beneficial to those who suffered from the altitude of Park City. Skiing won't be right on Main Street like in Park City, but Boulder is just 5,420 ft above sea level compared to the 7,000 to 10,000 ft above sea level of the Utah resort town. 'From a sense of space perspective, it's this really vibrant town that's surrounded by nature,' Acting Sundance CEO Kelso noted of Boulder. 'You can imagine walking from venue to venue, metabolizing the film you just watched and communing with nature which is something Robert Redford felt so strongly about. When you think about a sense of place perspective, Boulder is a cool town, it's an arts town. There are poets, musicians and filmmakers who live here. It's a tech town. It's also a college town — 38,000 students attend University of Colorado Boulder, and that creates an opportunity for us to think about audience development in a more expansive way.' Hoping to clinch an 11th hour win, conservative Utah and its GOP Gov. Spencer Cox worked the phones and the budgets over the last week to find a way to keep Sundance, sources tell us. Sundance Institute Board Chair Ebs Burnough insisted this morning that 'politics is not the game we play,' but the fact is the winds have shifted more MAGA in the Beehive State over the past few years. In fact, in a political measure by any other name, Sundance has listed 'ethos' and 'inclusion and accessibility' among its self-declared 'seven overreaching focus areas' that set the criteria for a new home. In that context, as Deadline reported on March 12 and again on March 25, the past month saw the passage by the Utah legislature of a bill that bans the LGTBQ+ Pride Flag from being flown on and in government buildings like schools and even the City Hall of liberal-leaning Salt Lake City. Up against a deadline of today to sign House Bill 77, Gov. Cox hasn't said out loud yet if he will allow the clearly discriminatory act to become law. However, HB77 sponsors Rep. Trevor Lee and Sen. Daniel McCay have made no secret of their feelings about Sundance and their legislation. On March 12, after HB77 passed, McCay sent out a tweet claiming Sundance makes 'porn' and 'does not fit in Utah anymore' while reposting a Deadline story. 'Sundance has nothing to do with the bill,' Rep Lee said to Deadline in an email late Wednesnday. 'Also the governor will sign it, he agrees with the vast majority of Utahns that taxpayer funded entities should be politically neutral.' If Cox does sign the anti-Pride flag bill today, it will take effect in early May. Flying of the rainbow colored flag on or in a state-funded building will result in a $500 per day fine for each flag. All of which means, Sundance 2026 in Park City and SLC will likely be under the provisions of the anti-Pride flag law. The change to Boulder is a much needed jolt to the Sundance Film Festival which has been rather sleepy in its noise post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the festival was quite loud, from the women's marches during the early days of the first Trump administration to Taylor Swift debuting her Netflix documentary in 2020. Even the way business is conducted with film sales have changed. Gone are the days when streamers and distributors haggled all night to layout bids that were in the tens of millions of dollars. Now, given the winds of change in theatrical and streamers' needs, it just takes longer to make a sale at Sundance, read its most prolific film this past year, the Jennifer Lopez starring Kiss of the Spider Woman, just found a distributor in Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate and LD Entertainment. Expected to be a bit of a blowout, the very last Sundance in Park City will take place from January 22 – February 1, 2026. 'We're already hard at work at the next Sundance Film Festival, festival director Hernadez admitted Thursday about Sundance's Utah finale next year. 'It will be really meaningful and special for us.' Then, on to Boulder. Best of Deadline '1923' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? 'Verity,' 'Reminders Of Him' & 'Regretting You' Will Join 'It Ends With Us' Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far
New York Times
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Sundance Picks Its New Home: Boulder, Colo.
The Sundance Film Festival is venturing to a new ski town. After a year of deliberations, copious site visits and scores of plane rides, the board of the Sundance Institute has chosen Boulder, Colo., to host its film festival beginning January 2027. 'Boulder is a tech town, a college town, it's a really creative town,' Eugene Hernandez, the festival's director, said. 'It's just a really creative place. And that integration of the artsy community with the university side of it all, is really dynamic.' It's also 10 times the size of Park City, Utah, where the festival has been held since the actor and director Robert Redford started it in 1981. As the festival kept growing, Park City began bursting at the seams. Ebs Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute, said the move to another mountain town would help Sundance maintain its connection to the natural world. 'It's easy to get drawn into that amazing thing that Robert Redford really believed in, which was that commune between the artist and nature, and to actually be able to get away from the verticalness of cities.' To frequent Sundance goers, the move to Boulder is likely to be less jarring than shifting the location to Cincinnati, one of two other finalist cities. Salt Lake City was also in the running, and the loss of the festival will be significant to the state of Utah. The festival generated $132 million in revenue for the state in 2024, according to a report released by the festival. Sundance announced last April that it was exploring the possibility of a new home. Park City just didn't have enough movie theaters, and lodging prices had become exorbitant. A good portion of the locals were ready for it to go, too. While Sundance added 1,730 jobs according to the festival, it also kept skiers away during a prime month of winter snow. '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,' Mr. Redford said in a statement. Boulder, about 30 miles outside of Denver, has around 100,000 residents compared with Park City's 8,200. The festival intends to center its activities in the city's downtown and its nearby theaters, venues and the Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian street with restaurants and cafes. The festival will also collaborate with the University of Colorado Boulder. Initially, over 100 U.S. locations offered to host the festival. Sundance winnowed them down to the 67 that could meet a variety of requirements, including adequate screening and lodging locations, and proximity to a sizable international airport. The Sundance selection committee then invited 13 of those cities to submit a proposal. Six of them — Atlanta; Boulder; Cincinnati; Louisville, Ky., Salt Lake City; and Santa Fe, N.M. — were later selected for site visits. Sundance will not be the only significant film festival held in Colorado. The Telluride Film Festival has been operating over Labor Day weekend in Telluride, a mountain town in the southwest part of the state, for over 50 years.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Sundance Film Festival goes online this week. Here's how to watch the films
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Access to the Sundance Film Festival doesn't require a trip to Park City, Utah, anymore — just an internet connection. Over half of the films that premiered this past week will be available to steam on the festival's online platform starting Thursday. What started as a COVID-era necessity has become one of the festival's most beloved components, even for those who do brave the cold and the lines to see films in person. 'I think it's really great to be able to offer that opportunity to our audiences, but also to our artists. Sundance is a festival of discovery and each of the films coming to the festival is seeking that moment with audiences,' said festival director Eugene Hernandez. 'How cool is it that even for that short window of time, just a few days, folks from anywhere in the country can log on in their living room with family and friends, get together and watch a few of the films?' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. How Can I watch Sundance films? The Sundance Film Festival website has information on the technical requirements, but there are ways to watch on your computer and television. After you click the 'Watch Now' button, you have five hours to complete the feature film. Who can watch? Anyone in the U.S. can access the online portal. Rights restrictions make the films and shows unavailable to stream internationally. What films are available? All of the feature films playing in the main competitions are included on the platform and a few extras, many of which do not yet have theatrical distribution plans. That includes the Dylan O'Brien breakout 'Twinless,' the Marlee Matlin, Sally Ride and Selena Quintanilla documentaries, and Ukrainian documentaries '2000 Meters to Andriivka' and 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin.' Other highlights include 'Love, Brooklyn'; 'Ricky'; the Barry Jenkins produced 'Sorry, Baby' made by triple threat Eva Victor; the politically relevant 'Heightened Scrutiny' which looks at how the media is responsible for shaping narratives around transgender issues; and 'The Perfect Neighbor,' which uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a deadly neighborhood incident in Florida. What films aren't available? Some films already have distributors and won't be streaming on the platform. A24 will release both the Ayo Edebiri film 'Opus' and the Rose Byrne psychological thriller 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' in theaters this year. Same with Focus Features' Carey Mulligan charmer 'The Ballad of Wallis Island,' which will be in theaters in March. And in general, movies that played in the premieres section will not be available online, whether or not they have distribution plans yet. That includes Bill Condon's 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' remake. When can I watch? Between Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. What does it cost to stream movies from this year's Sundance festival? It's $35 for a single film and up to $800 for unlimited. Proceeds benefit the Sundance Institute's artist programs and funds. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit:
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Sundance Film Festival goes online this week. Here's how to watch the films
Access to the Sundance Film Festival doesn't require a trip to Park City, Utah, anymore — just an internet connection. Over half of the films that premiered this past week will be available to steam on the festival's online platform starting Thursday. What started as a COVID-era necessity has become one of the festival's most beloved components, even for those who do brave the cold and the lines to see films in person. 'I think it's really great to be able to offer that opportunity to our audiences, but also to our artists. Sundance is a festival of discovery and each of the films coming to the festival is seeking that moment with audiences,' said festival director Eugene Hernandez. 'How cool is it that even for that short window of time, just a few days, folks from anywhere in the country can log on in their living room with family and friends, get together and watch a few of the films?' How Can I watch Sundance films? The Sundance Film Festival website has information on the technical requirements, but there are ways to watch on your computer and television. After you click the 'Watch Now' button, you have five hours to complete the feature film. Who can watch? Anyone in the U.S. can access the online portal. Rights restrictions make the films and shows unavailable to stream internationally. What films are available? All of the feature films playing in the main competitions are included on the platform and a few extras, many of which do not yet have theatrical distribution plans. That includes the Dylan O'Brien breakout 'Twinless,' the Marlee Matlin, Sally Ride and Selena Quintanilla documentaries, and Ukrainian documentaries '2000 Meters to Andriivka' and 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin.' Other highlights include 'Love, Brooklyn'; 'Ricky'; the Barry Jenkins produced 'Sorry, Baby' made by triple threat Eva Victor; the politically relevant 'Heightened Scrutiny' which looks at how the media is responsible for shaping narratives around transgender issues; and 'The Perfect Neighbor,' which uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a deadly neighborhood incident in Florida. What films aren't available? Some films already have distributors and won't be streaming on the platform. A24 will release both the Ayo Edebiri film 'Opus' and the Rose Byrne psychological thriller 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' in theaters this year. Same with Focus Features' Carey Mulligan charmer 'The Ballad of Wallis Island,' which will be in theaters in March. And in general, movies that played in the premieres section will not be available online, whether or not they have distribution plans yet. That includes Bill Condon's 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' remake. When can I watch? Between Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. What does it cost to stream movies from this year's Sundance festival? It's $35 for a single film and up to $800 for unlimited. Proceeds benefit the Sundance Institute's artist programs and funds. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit:
