Finalists announced to host future Sundance Film Festivals

The nonprofit behind the Sundance Film Festival on Friday named the finalists in the running to host the iconic event starting in 2027 .

Driving the news: Park City and Salt Lake City's joint bid made it to the last phase, along with five other cities:

• Atlanta
• Boulder, Colorado
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Santa Fe, New Mexico

What they're saying: "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," according to a statement from Park City Mayor Nann Worel, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson.

• "Salt Lake and Park City are one of the bids that excites us," festival director Eugene Hernandez told Axios Salt Lake City.

State of play: In their pitches, each finalist had to demonstrate how they'd plan and sustain the festival.

• The Sundance selection committee will now visit the cities "to further explore the possibilities of hosting the festival," per a news release.

By the numbers: Out-of-state visitors, who made up a quarter of attendees at 2023's event, spent nearly $100 million in Utah during the festival, per an economic impact report by Y2 Analytics.

Catch up quick: Sundance's contract with Park City is set to expire after the 2026 festival, prompting officials to explore the possibility of relocating.

• Sundance began accepting initial bids from cities in April.
• Cities that didn't make the final round were not disclosed. San Francisco, Minneapolis and Savannah, Georgia, are among the known bidders .

Between the lines: The swanky resort town has largely shaped the festival's look and identity, and it's difficult to imagine Sundance moving to a city without snow-capped mountains.

Yes, but: Sundance has faced growing pains in Park City.

• Festival goers have complained for years about expensive and limited lodging options and issues traveling between venues due to traffic and frigid conditions.

Context: Robert Redford founded the festival in Utah more than four decades ago.

• It has helped launch the careers of directors Wes Anderson, Ava DuVernay and Quentin Tarantino.

What we're watching: An announcement about the 2027 site is expected at the end of this year or early 2026.