The Sundance Institute has selected the finalist cities for the location of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival.
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In addition to the possibility of remaining in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, the cities that made the next round are Atlanta; Cincinnati; Boulder, Colo.; Louisville, Ky.; and Santa Fe, N.M.
The Sundance Institute looked at the infrastructure and event capabilities of each city, and the cities were required to show how they would welcome and foster the diverse Sundance community and culture of independent creativity, according to the institute.
“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,” Eugene Hernandez, festival director and director of public programming, said in a statement.
The festival will remain in Park City and Salt Lake City in 2025 and 2026.
The selection committee plans to visit each of the finalist cities in the coming weeks to further explore the possibilities. Though cities such as Cincinnati might not seem like obvious choices, the institute made note of the city’s strong independent film culture. Louisville, meanwhile, offers a longstanding arts and culture emphasis with a very diverse community. Santa Fe has a thriving film community and arts focus in a historic tourism location, while Boulder’s focus on sustainability was also key to its selection. Atlanta scores high on the equity index and is a large film production hub with a skilled industry workforce. Organizers also noted that Salt Lake City and Park City have a thriving economy, a growing population and increasing diversity.
“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 Board Chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO.
Hernandez continued, “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.
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Elected officials also made the cases for Sundance to choose their regions. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said, “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.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, “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 Mayor Aftab Pureval said, “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,” said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “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 Mayor Craig Greenberg said, “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 Mayor Nann Worel and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County’s Jenny Wilson said in a joint statement, “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 Mayor Alan Webber said, “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.”
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