Atlanta cracks top six finalists for new Sundance Film Festival location

Atlanta has been named one of the six finalists to be the new host location of the Sundance Film Festival.

Sundance announced a bidding process for a possible new city to call home earlier this year, with Atlanta officially submitting a Request for Proposal and entering the race in June . The nonprofit arm of the festival, the Sundance Institute, announced the six finalists via press release on July 19.

The six finalists are Atlanta, Boulder, Colo., Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., Park City/Salt Lake City, Utah, and Santa Fe, N.M. The festival is currently held in Park City and Salt Lake City and would not move to the new location until 2027.

“For over 40 years, Sundance has supported, sustained, and helped shine an essential spotlight on independent filmmakers and their work,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO, in the release. “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.”

According to the release, the Sundance Institute assessed each city’s infrastructure, ethos and equity values, event capabilities to host Sundance, and how each finalist could “sustainably serve and support the ever-growing Sundance Film Festival community of independent artists and audiences.”

The city of Atlanta released a website earlier this year dedicated to why it should host Sundance.

“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,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in the release. “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.”

The Sundance Institute did not say when the new city will be chosen, but previous reports have stated that it could be as early as late this year.

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