Boulder is one of six finalists to host the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027.
After asking potential host cities to submit proposals, the Sundance Institute on Friday announced six potential new locations for the 10-day festival, which has been held in Park City, Utah, since it was created in 1985 by Robert Redford as a venue for up-and-coming filmmakers.
In a statement, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Boulder resident, said he was “so excited” that Boulder made the cut for final review.
“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,” Polis said. “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.”
Boulder is competing against bids from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky, and Santa Fe, and a combined proposal from Park City and Salt Lake City.
Ebs Burnough, the chair of the Sundance Institute board, and Amanda Kelso, the acting CEO of the institute, issued a statement saying the six finalists offer a sustainable future for the festival and “build upon its legacy while continuing to support the next generation of storytellers and highlight bold new works of art.”
“For over 40 years, Sundance has supported, sustained, and helped shine an essential spotlight on independent filmmakers and their work,” reads the joint statement, which noted that Sundance organizers would soon visit each of the cities.
The Colorado Economic Development Commission last month gave Boulder organizers a $1.5 million grant to help lure the Sundance Festival for 10 years beginning in 2027. The Boulder coalition includes Visit Boulder, city officials, the Boulder Chamber, the University of Colorado and the yet-to-be-built Stanley Film Center at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
Last year, state economic boosters put up $300,000 to help the hotel and Estes Park land the Sundance Institute Directors Lab for the next two years.
Last month, Polis said “the evolution from Park City to Boulder is a logical one” for the film festival, noting that Redford attended CU Boulder.
Film industry champions in Colorado say the Sundance Film Festival could bring 40,000 to 50,000 visitors to Boulder and Denver in the middle of the typically slow season of late January and early February. The event could generate $5 million in annual tax revenue for Boulder with economic impacts reaching $50 million a year as attendees explore Colorado’s winter landscapes beyond the festival.
The Office of Economic Development and International Trade said that number could be closer to $100 million, based on economic reports from Park City.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.