Sundance Institute has announced the six finalists of host cities that could potentially become the new home of the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027.
Those cities are, in alphabetical order: Atlanta, GA; Boulder, CO; Cincinnati, OH; Louisville, KY; Park City/Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
It’s a surprising list spread out across the U.S., including some locations such as Boulder and Atlanta, which have been public about wanting to attract Sundance to their town, and others like Cincinnati and Louisville that were not on anyone’s radar. Of course, the list also includes Sundance’s current home in Park City, Utah, but the decision to include Salt Lake City on the list echoes a recent report that Utah’s plan was to spread the festival out across the two locations more than the festival does currently.
All six cities submitted proposals as part of Sundance’s formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which began in May and closed on June 21. Many other cities participated in the Request for Information (RFI) process that preceded this stage, but only a handful were asked to give submissions formally. Several reports suggested 15 cities had advanced to the RFP stage, but it’s unclear exactly how many submitted proposals and what other cities were included in that search.
Next up, the selection committee, comprised of Sundance board members and other leaders, will visit each city to review logistics and discuss the proposals in detail. The timeline for when the final decision will be announced has not changed and will take place either later this year or early next year.
An individual with knowledge of the selection committee’s thinking says the group chose these six locations because of their variety of cultures and backgrounds, each with an ecosystem that supports artists and creativity. Some, such as Santa Fe and Atlanta, have a buzzing film community and are big production hubs, while some are leaders in other arts.
The selection committee will visit each location and consider how the city captures Sundance’s key values and ethos (of the six, only Boulder and Park City are still cozy mountain towns) and whether it is a welcoming community in terms of values and the array of potential attendees.
The committee will evaluate the hotel options in the area to see if they can accommodate people of all demographic backgrounds. It will look at the city’s footprint, its proximity to airports, natural spaces in the area that can be utilized and highlighted, how sustainable the cities can be, what infrastructure they already have in place in terms of venues, and other logistics that will shape everything a festival needs. And finally, they’re looking for a city that can partner with the Sundance Institute in the long run.
Pricing and accessibility are expected key issues for Sundance, as IndieWire has reported about how expensive Park City and Telluride for its own festival have become in recent years, not just for guests but also filmmakers and other talent.
“For over 40 years, Sundance has supported, sustained, and helped shine an essential spotlight on independent filmmakers and their work. As we very carefully consider this important decision for our Festival, we believe these six finalists allow us the best opportunity to not only secure a sustainable future for our Festival, but also to build upon its legacy while continuing to support the next generation of storytellers and highlight bold new works of art,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute’s board chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute’s acting CEO. “We are grateful to all the communities who have expressed interest and been a part of the process, and we have valued the opportunity to learn about the uniqueness of each location. We look forward to the site visits in each of the finalist cities.”
“Throughout this process, we engaged in thoughtful, lively, creative, and supportive conversations with Governors, Mayors, arts advocates, film commissioners, and other local leaders from locations across the country. We’ve been buoyed by the tremendous enthusiasm and submissions from cities around the country and deeply appreciate the energy that went into each proposal,” said Eugene Hernandez, Sundance’s festival director and director of public programming. “Getting to six finalists was a difficult decision. Each of these cities has a vibrant creative ecosystem, either expanding or established, and has enabled creativity to flourish in their cities through their support of the arts. These cities understand our ethos, are aligned with our key values, and have shown us interesting possibilities for partnership with our Festival — for our artists, audiences, and all who want to be a part of the Sundance Film Festival — and that makes us want to see more.”
For now, the 2025 and 2026 Sundance will remain in Park City. Sundance’s choice to explore a move coincides with the Slamdance Film Festival’s recent decision to relocate from Park City to Los Angeles for its 2025 edition.
Below are some statements from public officials for each of the six bidding host cities as provided to IndieWire.
Atlanta, GA statement from Mayor Andre Dickens:
“Atlanta is a diverse and inclusive city of creatives, thinkers, artists and storytellers who are aligned with the core values of the Sundance Film Festival and who want to see Atlanta add to the legacy of Sundance. As we move through this process, we will continue to shine a light on the art, culture and unique attributes of Atlanta in hopes of winning the opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of Sundance filmmakers and attendees.”
Boulder, CO statement from Governor Jared Polis:
“I am so excited that Colorado is a finalist to host the Sundance Film Festival. With the beautiful backdrop of the Flatirons, Boulder’s historical ties to the Redford Family, and the capacity to support a growing, inclusive festival, we are confident that Boulder, Colorado is the right home for the Sundance Film Festival. I am thrilled the Sundance Institute recognizes the potential in relocating to my hometown and look forward to the many benefits this would bring to the entire state, as well as to the Festival.”
Cincinnati, OH statement from Mayor Aftab Pureval:
“For over a generation, with consistent support from the City of Cincinnati, Film Cincinnati has positioned the Cincinnati region as a go-to community for movies. We know how to nurture creative talent and the skilled workers behind the scenes, and we know how to celebrate them when they are on the big screen. Easily accessible to so much of the U.S. population, the Queen City is also a big league city for broader tourism, handling major events with professionalism and capacity. Both Cincinnati and the Sundance Film Festival are on the precipice for great change and we look forward to partnering and evolving together.”
Louisville, KY statement from Mayor Craig Greenberg:
“The City of Louisville and its diverse arts community is proud to be a finalist city for the Sundance Film Festival. Our rich history hosting world-class events, growing film industry, and commitment to sustainability position us as a perfect stage for the Festival’s future. We are home to the greatest two minutes in sports and we are ready to host the greatest 10 days in film.”
Park City/Salt Lake City, UT statement from Mayors Nann Worel (Park City), Erin Mendenhall (Salt Lake City), Jenny Wilson (Salt Lake County):
“We’ve been fortunate to host the Sundance Film Festival and witness some of the greatest films made over the past 40 years. And now, we are committed to working in partnership on a new vision of ‘Two Cities, One Experience’ with a shared goal of reinvigorating the Festival with an even greater tradition for storytelling over the next 40 years. At the heart of our proposal is a commitment to ensuring it remains an inspiring showcase of independent film, bringing together audiences and creators from all walks of life.”
Santa Fe, NM statement from Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber:
“Santa Fe and the Sundance Film Festival are a natural fit. Our shared values of inclusion, sustainability, and diversity have long been hallmarks of both our community and the Festival’s independent spirit. Santa Fe will provide an authentic, unique, and inspiring home for storytellers of all kinds. Sundance’s sense of purpose and Santa Fe’s sense of place make this a partnership waiting to happen.”
