Utah is still in the running to host the largest independent film festival in the United States.
The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced Thursday that it has selected three finalists — narrowed down from six semifinalists — that have a chance at hosting the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027.
The finalists include the festival’s home for more than 40 years, Park City, which submitted a joint bid with Salt Lake City. The other two finalists include Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
“As we move to the next phase in our search for a sustainable home for the Sundance Film Festival, we see great promise and potential in Boulder, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake/Park City. Each has shown us the blend of exciting possibilities, values, and logistics needed to produce a vibrant, inviting, and inclusive festival ...,” said Eugene Hernandez, festival director and head of public programming.
In May, festival organizers officially began exploring other potential homes for the event, starting in 2027.
According to a news release, all of the finalists “were assessed on ethos and equity values, infrastructure, and capabilities to host the festival, in addition to demonstrating ways in which they will continue to foster the diverse Sundance community and inspire the next generation of independent filmmakers.”
The Thursday announcement also comes just a month before Sundance is obligated to inform Park City about whether it will start negotiating a new contract for the festival.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said Thursday afternoon that the announcement was “a big deal for the state of Utah” because there will be “a lot of returns at the local level.”
In past years, the contract between Park City and the nonprofit institute required 70% of all festival screenings to take place in Park City; Salt Lake City venues have made up most of the rest. Mendenhall, however, said that may change if the festival were to continue calling the Beehive State home.
She said “it’s entirely possible” that Salt Lake City could be the primary host of the festival in the new partnership, if the bid is accepted.
Venues in Utah’s capital that could be a good fit for Sundance screenings, the mayor said, including the downtown public library and the west side’s Sorenson Unity Center.
In July, six finalists were announced: Atlanta; Boulder; Cincinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and a combined bid for Salt Lake City and Park City. In the following weeks, the institute said members of the selection committee would visit each of the finalist cities.
The committee visited Salt Lake City and Park City on Aug. 27, according to a release last month from the Utah Film Commission.
The Utah host committee “presented a reimagined footprint in Salt Lake and Park City” for the festival — and included representatives from the Utah Office of Tourism, Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Park City, Visit Park City and Visit Salt Lake.
According to the August release, the tour included a review of “key venues, theaters, performing arts facilities, and restaurants across Salt Lake City” in an effort to highlight the theme of their proposal, “Two Cities, One Experience,” which has a goal of “preserving the legacy of the Park City experience while expanding the Salt Lake City footprint.”
Mendenhall said the Sundance committee saw Salt Lake City “in a way they really never had before.” One of the organizations they took the committee to was Spy Hop, a nonprofit digital media arts center for youth in the city’s Central Ninth neighborhood.
Park City Mayor Nann Worel, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Mendenhall issued a joint statement on Thursday’s announcement, saying they were “proud to unite in support of the Sundance Film Festival.”
“Each step brings us closer, as a bid team in continuing our journey with Sundance,” the mayors said. “We are eager to forge an even stronger bond to inspire artists and elevate the festival experience. With our extensive event infrastructure, world-class venues, and warm hospitality, we’re ready to help Sundance shine on the global stage.”
The next two festivals — 2025 and 2026 — are scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City and Park City.
The festival’s connection to Utah predates the institute’s existence. The first Utah/US Film Festival was held in September 1978 in Salt Lake City, and moved to Park City in January 1981 — a few months before actor-director-activist Robert Redford founded the Sundance Institute as a laboratory for independent filmmakers. In 1985, the institute took over operations of what was then called the United States Film Festival; the name was changed to Sundance in 1991.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival will take place from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5. According to Thursday’s release, the institute will announce its selection of the host city sometime after the 2025 festival has concluded.