“Utah lost the Sundance film festival to Colorado,” according to Sage Miller from KUER 90.1.
“It is a loss for Park City and Utah,” said Andrea Doyle, as quoted in Skift Meetings, a blog. “The 2024 festival attracted 72,840 attendees. Over 12 months, its economic impact is estimated at $132 million.”
Westminster’s liberal arts education attracts many students interested in the arts, especially film.
“At first I was disappointed just because I live in Utah and I enjoy going to Sundance screenings, but I think it’s for the best,” said Elena Allred, sophomore archival research major.
“Park City is just so hard to get to and expensive for the average person in Salt Lake City,” Allred said. ”From what I know about Boulder, I think Sundance will be a lot more accessible going forward, especially to students.”
Sundance’s departure from Park City isn’t entirely clear, however much speculation surrounds Utah’s right-leaning demographics.
The film festival IS political–films shown at Sundance often encapsulate diversity and inclusivity more than box office films. Sundance’s experiential opportunities have been intended for underprivileged demographics, such as filmmakers of color and trans filmmakers.
“Challenging cultural norms is a core part of the festival’s brand,” said Sage Miller, from KUER 90.1.
Rightist policies from the Utah legislature–like prohibiting the use of bathrooms that coincide with one’s gender identity (HB 275) and the banning of the pride flag on government buildings–have made Utah an increasingly less inclusive place for Sundance Film Festival to occur.
“Sundance stressed that politics didn’t factor into the decision-making process, although they haven’t disclosed why they picked Boulder over Salt Lake City and Park City,” said Miller. “Park City Mayor Nann Worel did acknowledge Utah’s political climate may have unintentionally hurt their bid for the festival.
“I think that words matter and the rhetoric that has been coming out of our legislators recently weren’t helpful,” said Worel, Park City mayor.
Many students were not aware of Sundance’s departure to Colorado.
“I didn’t know that [Park City lost Sundance to Boulder], but that sucks,” said Sofia Nyquist, a junior justice studies major. “[It’s] the only cool thing about Utah.”
Other students said that Utah was a fundamental part of Sundance.
“I think it was cool that Utah had it and it would be ideal if we could keep it here, but they should rename it when it goes to Colorado,” said Mia Strassberg, a sophomore elementary education major.
“It became clear that Boulder is the ideal location in which to build our festival’s future, marking a key strategic step in its natural evolution,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair.
2026 will be Utah’s final year hosting the Sundance Film Festival. After that, the festival will be held in Boulder, CO for the next ten years.
