Standing in line exterior the Eccles for the opening-night premiere of “Twinless,” a gaggle of Park Metropolis locals affixed vivid yellow stickers studying “KEEP SUNDANCE IN UTAH” to their badges. A small group of Sundance faithfuls — not even locals — spent the weekend handing out the stickers to anybody who would take one. In addition they carried an alternate choice: “NO-HIO FOR SUNDANCE.” Intelligent.
However regardless of a cadre of oldsters who wish to see their favourite movie pageant keep shut by, the alternatives between finalists Salt Lake Metropolis, Boulder, and Cincinnati for Sundance’s new residence starting in 2027 have lobbyists on all sides of the divide. Pageant attendees are simply as cut up.
What is thought is that Sundance hasn’t made an official choice. At a press convention on Wednesday, January 22, Sundance director Eugene Hernandez stated merely, “no, not but.” An announcement will come later this winter or early within the spring, after the 2025 pageant concludes and dates for the 2026 pageant are introduced. IndieWire moreover understands that no behind-the-scenes choice has been made but both. Authorities officers from all three finalist places have been in attendance early within the pageant, together with at Friday night time’s Gala fundraiser.
Ask round although, and a strong case will be made for any of the three.
Salt Lake Metropolis
Salt Lake is the desire amongst many attendees we spoke with — nostalgia is a strong device. Flying into Utah has an attract to it, and there’s a need amongst many to maintain Sundance within the West. The Uber drivers who make their strategy to and from Park Metropolis in the course of the pageant are on board, as Salt Lake Metropolis would clear up a few of the logistical issues of Park Metropolis. And a pageant shuttle between the 2 places could possibly be a no brainer addition.
Past the imperfect infrastructure, Park Metropolis’s lodging is dear and competes with individuals there simply to ski. Salt Lake Metropolis is considerably bigger, and with or with out Sundance, it’s proactively fixing a possible housing problem. The Winter Olympics return to Salt Lake in 2034, which signifies that plans for extra locations to remain are already underway. And with a Salt Lake Sundance, some occasions can keep in Park Metropolis — probably the labs or different occasions — although most probably not the core premieres.
One of many primary causes Sundance is leaving Park Metropolis within the first place is the more and more prohibitive value of attending the pageant, particularly for impartial filmmakers seeking to home their forged and crew, not to mention younger cinephiles who wish to uncover the pageant for the primary time. It’s not an issue distinctive to Sundance — simply ask Telluride — however relocating to any of the three finalists might alleviate these bills within the close to time period.
Cincinnati
Phrase on the road is Cincinnati’s movie commissioners made a heck of a presentation to Sundance’s choice committee, answering the entire main logistical questions. And the Midwest metropolis’s location makes it extra engaging to some East coasters who’ve acknowledged the excessive value of journey to Utah.
Already recognized amongst indie-film insiders, Cincinnati quietly has a robust movie neighborhood, with current movies like “The Bikeriders,” “Nutcrackers,” “Shirley,” and extra all filmed there. One producer informed IndieWire that as his colleagues debated the situation, Cincinnati sounded higher and higher over time. The producer posited that if Sundance goes to make a radical change, maybe it’s finest to get a very contemporary begin in a spot just like the Midwest.
However when you transfer to a giant metropolis, does Sundance get misplaced within the crowd? Individuals come to Park Metropolis particularly for the pageant, and whereas one thing like TIFF thrives in Toronto’s city setting, one supply opined that Sundance may not really feel the identical when you might hit up the Cheesecake Manufacturing unit between screenings. One worldwide filmmaker we spoke with wasn’t instantly positive what state Cincinnati is even in. (It’s the NO-HIO one.)
And a few of those that do know Cincy don’t wish to go to there, to change a Liz Lemon (Tina Fey on “30 Rock”) favourite phrase.
“I’ve by no means stepped foot in Ohio, however I don’t assume Cincinnati suits the vibe,” one purchaser informed us forward of the pageant. “I might hate for Sundance to lose that. There’s one thing particular about us trudging within the snow and consumers not specializing in a market however truly seeing these movies with actual life audiences.”
Boulder
Amongst many attendees, Boulder checks extra of these small mountain-town bins. There’s a contemporary crop of younger individuals shifting in every year to the school city, which as one purchaser identified to us, means you received’t see the industrial real-estate growth that has priced individuals out of Sundance and Telluride. Boulder’s proximity to Denver is also a plus.
“It’s a 30-minute drive, and it at present takes half-hour simply to rise up Essential Road,” the customer stated. And since Boulder has confirmed capable of throttle in visitors for 50,000-plus soccer followers to Buffalos video games at Folson Discipline, crowd management received’t be a difficulty. “Take a look at what they’ve carried out with screening rooms at Telluride or the Library at Sundance. The faculty campus at Boulder has that tenfold.”
However the proximity to Telluride stays a nagging concern, with one fearing Sundance might grow to be “Telluride-lite” ought to it additionally transfer to Colorado. Others have puzzled if the dormitory city has sufficient obtainable leases for the inflow of holiday makers a serious movie pageant attracts.
No matter the place Sundance finally ends up, will probably be unhappy to see the establishment depart. Simply as individuals started complaining about Essential Road getting too crowded and hectic, the pageant this yr made it free and away from vehicles, a welcome repair that reminded people why Park Metropolis was so magical within the first place. Too little, too late. Wherever Sundance lands, in 2027, we’ll be capable to put the geography apart and focus the lens again the place it belongs — on the movies.