The Sundance Film Festival may kick the snow off its boots once and for all.
The annual celebration of independent film announced on Wednesday that it is open for pitches from cities across the United States on becoming the new permanent home of the festival starting in 2027.
Sundance has taken place in the luxury mountain haven of Park City, Utah since 1981 (except for two virtual years during the pandemic).
Film Festival in Salt Lake City in 1978.
It will remain the host and headquarters of Sundance for two more years, at which point Park City’s contract with the Sundance Institute is up for renewal.
In 2016, war broke out over the use of private chopper services shuttling festival goers from the airport at Salt Lake City to Park City, blasting wind and noise pollution over the expensive homes of Summit County on their travels.
Beginning April 17, a Sundance special committee will accept RIFs (requests for information) from hopeful hosts through May 1.
A final host city will be announced by the end of 2024 or in early 2025.
Maybe the Sundance Film Festival will finally shake off the snow.
The yearly celebration of independent cinema declared on Wednesday that it is accepting proposals from American cities to host the festival permanently beginning in 2027.
With the exception of two virtual years during the pandemic, Sundance has been held in the opulent mountain haven of Park City, Utah, since 1981. Originally known as the Utah/U. s. Salt Lake City’s 1978 Film Festival. It will hold Sundance’s title of host and headquarters for an additional two years, after which Park City’s agreement with the Sundance Institute is up for renewal. Utah is still a possibility to host Sundance in the future.
“With the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to responsibly consider how we best continue serving our community sustainably while maintaining the essence of the festival experience,” stated Eugene Hernandez, head of public programming and festival director. The group is driven by their desire to see the festival survive for another forty years as a financially successful, operationally successful, and culturally significant event. “.
Sources familiar with the plans stated that infrastructure is a continuous need, even though the organization did not go into detail about how the festival needs to increase in accessibility and inclusivity. A record 17,000 film submissions were received by Sundance in the previous year. Not only would a location with better access to airports and modern movie theaters serve programming, but it would also attract both repeat and new attendees.
Unquestionably, Utah is a part of Sundance’s DNA, and the festival makes a sizable economic contribution to the state. Kumbaya hasn’t been the norm entirely. In recent years, rumors have circulated through Park City that, in the post-pandemic world, hard-core skiers and reclusive millionaires are sick of the yearly Hollywood shuffle that the town must put up with. The use of private helicopter services to transport festival attendees from Salt Lake City airport to Park City in 2016 caused a rift, with protesters blazing noise and wind pollution over the affluent homes in Summit County while they traveled. In order to stop the flights, the county successfully requested a restraining order.
A special committee at Sundance will take requests for information, or RIFs, from prospective hosts starting on April 17 and running through May 1. According to insiders, the procedure will proceed to a proposal stage, which is expected to be completed by the end of June. Amy Redford, a board member, and her father, Robert Redford, are involved in the process. By the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025, the final host city will be disclosed.
“We’re excited to examine each proposal and collaborate with all of our possible partners to figure out how we can best serve the needs of the independent film industry and the larger creative community as a whole,” continued Ebs Burnough, board chair of Sundance Institute.
