FULL BID DETAILS DUE TO INSTITUTE BY JUNE 21
Utah has made the first cut in its quest to keep the Sundance Film Festival in the state. The Utah Film Commission through its Sundance Film Festival Host Committee has announced that it has received the opportunity from the Sundance Institute to proceed to the second step in the process by submitting a proposal to the institute in Sundance’s request for proposal (RFP) process to host the festival beginning in 2027.
In April, the Sundance Institute announced it would be exploring different locations across the U.S. to possibly relocate the festival. Its current contract with Park City expires following the 2026 event, allowing the festival to “evaluate, consider and build.”
“The Utah Sundance Film Festival Host Committee thanks the Sundance Institute for the opportunity to proceed to the next step in their RFP process for the 2027 film festival and beyond,” said Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission. “We’re committed to collaboratively reimagining future festivals, inspiring film enthusiasts and preserving the Festival’s connection to its home state. Our shared 40-year growth and success have greatly contributed to Utah’s culture and economy and have fostered a proven partnership in the film industry. Most importantly, we believe that continuing in Utah will best assure the Sundance Film Festival’s continued growth and long-term success.”
Sundance has now reviewed the interested locations and has chosen Utah as one of the viable options for future festivals and extended the RFP. Other cities that have expressed interest in hosting the Sundance Film Festival include Atlanta; Minneapolis; San Francisco; Savannah, Georgia; and Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to media reports. Interested hosts will now have until June 21 to submit their detailed proposals.
So far, the Utah Host Committee has not named the Utah city it will back as a festival host. It said it is focused on keeping the festival in the state first. The committee will now respond to a request for proposals, sharing specifics on how it will host successful events in coming years, the committee said.
The Utah Host Committee was formed since the original Sundance announcement and consists of state and community leaders as well as a number of community partners. The committee consist of Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz, Senate President Stuart Adams, Park City Mayor Nann Worel, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Visit Park City’s Jennifer Wesselhoff, Visit Salt Lake’s Kaitlin Eskelson, Utah Film Commission’s Virginia Pearce, the Utah Office of Tourism’s Natalie Randall, Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson, Larry H. Miller Co. CEO Steve Starks, University of Utah President Taylor Randall and Donna Law of the Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Community Partners are Dee Brewer, Downtown Alliance; Derek Miller, Salt Lake Chamber; Michele Corigliano, Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association; Malena Stevens, Summit County Council chair; Dallin Koecher, Visit Heber Valley; Celina Sinclair, Utah Tourism Industry Association; the Historic Park City Alliance; Ginger Wicks, Park City Lodging and Restaurant Association; Todd Bennett, Deer Valley Resort; and Deirdra Walsh, Park City Mountain Resort.