Tom Haraldsen
The City Journals
A few years ago, actor Justin Long and I shared a transit ride in Park City while attending the Sundance Film Festival. That’s when he told me why the annual gathering of actors, producers, directors, distributors and other filmmaking professionals has been so important.
“They work within blocks of each other in Los Angeles, but they almost never do deals unless they’re up here,” he said. “The mountains and the magic of Sundance bring people in the industry together. It really can’t be beat.”
Such deals won’t be happening in Utah after next winter, as the Sundance Institute has announced it will relocate the film festival starting in 2027. The final Sundance Film Festival will be held in Park City and surrounding communities in January before it moves to a new home in Boulder, Colorado.
Everyone has expressed their take on why the move is being made. Was it Utah’s ultraconservative political leaders who banned the display of pride flags and downplayed diversity? Was it the state Legislature’s somewhat-meager financial incentive to keep it here, or some representatives making unflattering remarks about the festival?
Were housing, food and transportation costs around Park City too high, especially for independent filmmakers already strapped for cash after finishing their films? Was the town just too small, the venues not close enough, and too negatively impacted by snarling traffic? Was it just about the money?
The answer is “all of the above,” in no particular order.
An even larger question is how this will affect Park City and the state of Utah in the future.
A little background: The Sundance Film Festival has been “under contract” with Park City regularly for years regarding services, venues, security and maintenance. The current contract expires after the 2026 festival.
Sundance Institute CEO Amanda Kelso said in April 2024 that the organization was starting a selection process for a festival host city in 2027. Six cities were chosen in June for consideration, but Atlanta; Louisville, Kentucky; and Santa Fe, New Mexico, were cut in September, leaving Utah (a combined Salt Lake City/Park City bid); Boulder; and Cincinnati, Ohio, as the last candidates.
Legislators in all three states ponied up bids for the show in the form of refundable tax credits — both Utah and Ohio for about $3.5 million for the coming year. Colorado offered a longer-range, $34 million deal over 10 years.
Amy Redford, daughter of SFF founder Robert Redford, has more or less taken her father’s place within the organization since he moved to New Mexico. Amy Redford is a graduate of the University of Colorado, located in Boulder. She knows the town and what it takes to stage Sundance, which had to play a factor in the decision process.
“Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town and college town,” Kelso said in a release. “It is a place where the festival can build and flourish. We can't imagine a better fit than Boulder.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis joined a group of state officials celebrating the news, saying, “Here in Colorado and across the country, [arts] put food on the table for so many people. The economic benefit to the state over 10 years is projected to be over $2 billion. We know it’s about more than money. A powerful film that inspires somebody is priceless.”
Economically, Utah has benefited greatly from Sundance. According to the festival’s study for 2024, it generated about $132 million in gross domestic product for the state, 1,730 local jobs, $69.7 million in Utah wages, and $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue.
Besides the income at hospitality venues such as hotels and restaurants, merchants on Park City’s Main Street benefit from visitors, especially since there’s “Park City any day” pricing and “Sundance Film Festival” pricing. One local driver, who wanted to remain anonymous, said his work for a resort near Park City “is always positively impacted by Sundance, and, yes, losing it will hurt.”
“I’ve driven hundreds of people to and from Salt Lake International Airport and in and out of Park City for more than 10 years,” the driver said. “There’s a vibe and an energy created by Sundance that’s unmatched, even with all the skiers in the winter or the hikers and rock climbers in the summer. It will be greatly missed.”
Long-time Summit County resident Tom Kelly said he’s aware that some locals tend to leave town during the festival because of the influx of visitors, though he and his wife are happy to stay.
“I think it’s their loss,” he said. “Even if you don’t participate, you need to take pride in where you live. Sundance is a great source of community pride, and who wouldn’t want to be part of something like that?”
Some Utah lawmakers aren’t sorry to see it go. Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, posted on X: “Sundance promotes porn. Sundance promotes alternative lifestyles. Sundance promotes anti-LDS themes. Sundance does not fit in Utah anymore.”