January 22, 2026
• less than 3 min read
Sundance is ending its first act. The independent film festival founded by Robert Redford opens today under bittersweet circumstances—after four decades in Utah, the event that launched numerous movie careers will be moving to Boulder, CO, next year.
Park City will be the second location filled with notable people in parkas this week, but next year’s move may be a blow to Utah’s economy. The 2025 iteration drew more than 85,000 attendees, with out-of-state visitors spending $162.4 million, according to a Sundance report. That’s a lot of tickets and branded tote bags bought by people with an appreciation for cinemat…
January 22, 2026
• less than 3 min read
Sundance is ending its first act. The independent film festival founded by Robert Redford opens today under bittersweet circumstances—after four decades in Utah, the event that launched numerous movie careers will be moving to Boulder, CO, next year.
Park City will be the second location filled with notable people in parkas this week, but next year’s move may be a blow to Utah’s economy. The 2025 iteration drew more than 85,000 attendees, with out-of-state visitors spending $162.4 million, according to a Sundance report. That’s a lot of tickets and branded tote bags bought by people with an appreciation for cinematography, and it explains why many locations courted the festival.
- Utah officials proposed setting aside $3.5 million in state funds next year for Sundance and relocating it almost entirely to Salt Lake City.
- But Boulder’s offer of $34 million in tax credits over 10 years, along with more venues to support expansion and proximity to the University of Colorado, won the approval of Sundance and Redford, who died in September.
Staying behind: Sundance will continue to offer labs (intensive workshops) in Utah for aspiring screenwriters and directors, who will get to work with established professionals.
End credits: Richard Linklater, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, and many other notable Sundance alumni spoke to The Hollywood Reporter for an extensive oral history of the festival.—DL
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Morning Brew delivers quick and insightful updates about the business world every day of the week from Wall St. to Silicon Valley.