Hostess City no longer in running to host Sundance

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Savannah will not be home to the Sundance Film Festival, according to an update from the Sundance Institute’s website.

The renowned festival, which has showcased premieres of award-winning movies for over four decades, has been accepting submissions for a new host city. The festival’s contract with longtime homes Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah is set to expire in 2027.

Local filmmakers had some thoughts on the decision to bump the Hostess City out of the running.

“As a filmmaker and someone who works in film, I’ve always dreamed of going to the Sundance Film Festival, but getting there is one of the hardest parts about going. So, to have it right here in town would’ve been a dream come true, ” Patrick Longstreth, a local filmmaker, said.

It could be a dream come true for students, too.

“I hire new students from SCAD. It’s always amazing the talent pool that’s there every semester. We have an incredible resource here in town for new talent,” Longstreth said.

Savannah is home to one of the best film programs in the country at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

They already partner with the city to put on a large film festival every year.

“When I was in school, I really did enjoy the Savannah Film Festival. To have Sundance here as well would’ve been really incredible. I think it also would help recruit more students, too,” the Savannah-based filmmaker said.

As incredible as it could have been, film professionals tell News 3 it may have not made much of a difference when it comes to the work being made in Savannah.

“My guess is that it would’ve been a really exciting, weeklong event, but for the rest of the year, Savannah would continue just to rely on our great locations and our great town to attract bigger movies,” Longstreth said.

He says that it can be a challenge to bring large films to Savannah consistently.

“Film in Savannah is a little different than Atlanta or LA because there are some big projects, but there can also be gaps between those projects. So, most of the people that I know who work in film have their specialty, their job that’s on set or in post, but a lot of people also have another side gig that they do.”

The new list of finalists includes six cities. Despite Savannah’s omission, Georgia has maintained a spot on the list with Atlanta vying for the host city.

Here is the full list of venue finalists:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Boulder, Colorado
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Park City/Salt Lake City, Utah
• Santa Fe, New Mexico