Sundance Film Festival Courting New Host City for 2027 and Beyond
variety.comMatt Donnelly Senior Film Writer The Sundance Film Festival may kick the snow off its boots once and for all. The annual celebration of independent film announced on Wednesday that it is open for pitches from cities across the United States on becoming the new permanent home of the festival starting in 2027.
Sundance has taken place in the luxury mountain haven of Park City, Utah since 1981 (except for two virtual years during the pandemic).
It started off as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival in Salt Lake City in 1978. It will remain the host and headquarters of Sundance for two more years, at which point Park City’s contract with the Sundance Institute is up for renewal.
Utah will remain in the mix as a continued home for Sundance. “We are in a unique moment for our festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to responsibly consider how we best continue sustainably serving our community while maintaining the essence of the festival experience,” said Eugene Hernandez, festival director and head of public programming, adding the group is “motivated by our commitment to ensure that the festival continues to thrive culturally, operationally, and financially as it has for four decades.” While the organization did not elaborate on how the festival needs to expand in its accessibility and inclusion, sources familiar with the plans said infrastructure is an ongoing need.
Read more on variety.com