Park Metropolis, Utah will host its final Sundance Movie Competition in 2026; the competition is transferring to Boulder, Colorado in 2027
In 1978, the Sundance Movie Competition (co-founded by the pinnacle of Robert Redford’s firm Wildwood Enterprises, Inc) acquired its begin in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. As of 1981, it moved over to Park Metropolis, Utah, and there it has remained ever since, with the competition being held in January yearly (apart from not too long ago, when Covid shut it down for a few years). However the Park Metropolis period is about to return to an finish. As of 2027, the Sundance Movie Competition can be primarily based in Boulder, Colorado.
We first heard rumblings that Sundance may transfer in July of 2023, when it was revealed that the competition’s Park Metropolis contract could be expiring after the 2026 present and executives have been pondering of doing “a dramatic reset with a brand new location.” Whereas there was an opportunity that the Park Metropolis contract might be renewed, a number of cities pitched themselves to be the brand new house of Sundance, with the checklist of potential new hosts together with Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Bentonville, Arkansas; and Boulder, Colorado. The checklist was whittled all the way down to finalists Park Metropolis, Cincinnati, and Boulder a couple of months in the past, and Deadline has confirmed that Boulder has come out the winner on this competitors to host Sundance.
In keeping with Deadline, “With a financially deep and culturally deep proposal, Boulder, which homes of the College of Colorado, put $34 million in tax incentives on the desk over the 10-years. Straight dealing with the challenges and inconvenience which have hobbled Sundance in Park Metropolis in recent times, the Boulder Conference and Guests Bureau detailed of their profitable pitch a plethora of venues and lodgings that goal to make Sundance way more accessible and inexpensive for streamer and studio bosses in addition to first time filmmakers going to Sundance on their very own dime.“
Appearing Sundance Institute CEO Amanda Kelso mentioned, “A part of the decision-making course of was round alternative for progress. That can also be an essential issue for us. Figuring out that we could be in a city that has 100,000 individuals implies that it has extra venues, extra areas, and extra alternatives in how we could be expansive of the competition transferring ahead. From a way of house perspective, it’s this actually vibrant city that’s surrounded by nature. You possibly can think about strolling from venue to venue, metabolizing the movie you simply watched and communing with nature which is one thing Robert Redford felt so strongly about. When you concentrate on a way of place perspective, Boulder is a cool city, it’s an arts city. There are poets, musicians and filmmakers who dwell right here. It’s a tech city. It’s additionally a school city — 38,000 college students attend College of Colorado Boulder, and that creates a chance for us to consider viewers improvement in a extra expansive method.“
Colorado Governor Jared Polis added, “Colorado is thrilled to welcome the Sundance Movie Competition to its new house in Boulder beginning in 2027. Right here in our state we rejoice the humanities and movie trade as a key financial driver, job creator, and essential contributor to our thriving tradition. Now, with the addition of the enduring Sundance Movie Competition, we are able to count on much more jobs, an enormous profit for our small companies together with shops and eating places. Thanks to the Sundance Institute and all the companions just like the Metropolis of Boulder, Go to Boulder, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, and I additionally wish to thank the bipartisan legislators and management who’ve labored tirelessly to make this attainable.“
The final Sundance in Park Metropolis is scheduled to happen from January twenty second by way of February 1st, 2026, and now it’s anticipated to be “a little bit of a blowout.”
What do you consider the Sundance Movie Competition transferring from Park Metropolis, Utah to Boulder, Colorado? Tell us by leaving a remark beneath.
