DENVER — A proposal announced Thursday calls for the Sundance Film Festival to move to Colorado from Utah.
Boulder said it plans to submit a proposal to host the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder beginning in 2027.
The proposal was made on behalf of the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Boulder), the City of Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, the University of Colorado Boulder and the Stanley Film Center.
The nation's largest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival has been held in Utah since 1978 in Park City, Salt Lake City, and at the Sundance Resort near Provo.
In April, the Sundance Institute initiated a process to consider a new host location starting in 2027.
In a news release Thursday, Colorado state officials said hosting the festival would create Colorado jobs and attract out-of-state visitors, boosting winter tourism and businesses in Boulder and Colorado.
"The Sundance Film Festival has a deep history in the Mountain West, and we can think of no better home for its next act than Colorado," said Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO). "With the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop and our deep commitment to the arts, we can help the festival achieve even greater success while preserving what makes it special, building on Colorado’s iconic creative brand and our strong arts community."
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival contributed more than $118 million to Utah's economy while creating 1,608 jobs for Utah residents and $63 million in wages, according to Boulder officials. More than 21,000 visitors came from out of state to attend last year's Sundance Film Festival.
"Colorado’s creative industries contribute $16.8 billion to our economy every year and account for nearly 4% of jobs," said Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Film Television and Media (COFTM). "Hosting the prestigious Sundance Film Festival will grow the sector’s contributions to our state while raising Colorado’s profile across the globe, benefiting the many small businesses that depend on tourism and out-of-state visitors for their livelihoods."
The Colorado Economic Development Commission on Thursday approved a one-time $1.5 million incentive as part of Colorado’s proposal to host the festival.
The Business Funding and Incentives division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) will also contribute $325,000 to the proposal, including $250,000 from the COFTM over five years and one-time contributions from the Colorado Tourism Office ($50,000) and Colorado Creative Industries ($25,000).
"When the Sundance Institute invited us to explore Boulder as a potential location for the film festival, we recognized an incredible opportunity to contribute to a longstanding artistic tradition while boosting visitation and local business support during a traditionally quiet time of year for our local restaurants, hotels and retailers," said Visit Boulder CEO Charlene Hoffman.
"We were thrilled to welcome the Sundance Institute’s prestigious Directors Lab to the Stanley Hotel and Estes Park this May," said Colorado Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman.
"The success of that event showcased the many resources our state has to offer Sundance Institute’s unique programming, and we welcome the opportunity to grow this relationship in such a meaningful way," Zuckerman said. "This is an unprecedented opportunity that will benefit the Sundance Film Festival, the City of Boulder and the State of Colorado."
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