Minneapolis makes $2 million bid to host Sundance Film Festival

The City of Minneapolis is campaigning to host the prestigious Sundance Film Festival,  offering organizers $2 million a year after the event announced its intention to relocate.

The City of Minneapolis applied to be considered when it submitted a Request for Information (RFI) back in April, but details of its bid – which is backed by a number of major companies – are now emerging.

Sundance will continue to hold the festival in 2025 and 2026 at its original location of Park City, Utah, but it announced that it is looking for a new location in January 2027.

A news release from the City of Minneapolis says the city is promising organizers funding of $2 million annually, with the support of CEOs from Target, Best Buy, and U.S. Bancorp.

This money would be used "to sustain and grow the festival," according to the Film North Executive Director Andrew Peterson.

Hosting it in Minneapolis in a January would help Sundance retain the winter theme it has maintained since the independent film festival was launched in the Utah mountains by a group that included acclaimed actor Robert Redford in 1978.

While the Sundance Festival still has a while before it decides on its new residence, board member and founder, Amy Redford plans to visit potential cities over the next few months, including Minneapolis, according to Deadline.

Minneapolis argues that it is a viable choice for the festival, citing the large urban community, with inclusive and progressive policies, and the fact that Minneapolis and Minnesota have also been consistently near the top of many lists ranking the livability and quality of life.

The festival would present a major economic boost to Minneapolis, with the city already boasting multiple "world-renowned" historic theaters for screenings, and a walkable downtown area, the city argues.

“With our thriving arts and entertainment scene, diverse cultural heritage, and passionate film community, Minneapolis is the ideal backdrop for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “There is no city that embraces the arts quite like we do – and Minneapolis already has a long history of supporting independent filmmakers and their art of storytelling.“

Minneapolis is already the host of the Twin Cities Film Festival, which is held every fall on St. Anthony Main.