Sundance Weighs Interest From Atlanta, SF, Santa Fe And More For Potential 2027 Move; Park City and SLC propose joint effort to keep festival going

EXCLUSIVE: Like an applause-filled debut at Park City’s Eccles Theater, the Sundance Film Festival’s potential 2027 move to a new location attracts many big bidders, as well as a significant shift from the local crowd.

San Francisco, Minneapolis, Santa Fe and Atlanta, home of South Hollywood, are among the jurisdictions that have notified SFF organizers that they are raising their paddles for a chance to bring the festival to their city. Chicago also reportedly made a move to bring Sundance to the Windy City, already rich in film festivals, from what I hear. A few locations in upstate New York as well as Savannah, Georgia are also in play.

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Last year, as Santa Fe was champing at the bit, Deadline exclusively reported that Sundance was considering a move as its current more than decade-old contract with Park City was coming to an end. Brimming with infrastructure, manufacturing, tax incentives, hotels and screens, the increasingly purple Peach State’s capital could be the one to beat in this early stage, insiders tell me .

That said, with Sundance still in Park City next year and in 2026, there’s still a long way to go before a final decision is made.

On Wednesday, the deadline expired for the information request submission period announced on April 17 by the gathering founded by Robert Redford. A flurry of applications came in right under the wire, I was told, which is quite common in situations like this. The next step will see a Sundance Institute task force, including founder and board member Amy Redford, over the next few days divide RFI applicants into serious players.

Once this core of candidates is established and notified, Sundance will initiate a request for proposals process which will run from May 7 to June 21. This global endeavor will see Sundance executives crunch the numbers and visit potential host candidates, with a focus on inclusiveness and sustainability, before choosing a winner later this year.

The new home of the Sundance Film Festival, which has been held in Utah since the early 1980s, is expected to be unveiled at the end of the 2025 festival next January.

Or not.

Despite the metropolis’s goal to put its name in the hat and Slamdance’s recent revelation that they will be moving to Los Angeles next year, Park City isn’t ready to say goodbye to the festival that has drawn dozens of thousands of visitors, more than 118 million dollars at the festival. the state’s economy and the world’s media to Utah in 2023.

“The Sundance Film Festival should stay in Utah,” Park City Mayor Nann Worel told Deadline this morning.

“We have an experienced, innovative and unified team to make this happen,” added the first female director of the increasingly expensive 7,000-foot resort. “Park City n We are not alone in this process. Our regional partnerships are strong and we are committed to a renewed, forward-looking effort to reimagine the festival together. Ultimately, we believe our 40 years of experience and partnerships. Solid foundations will be key to our success and we thank the Sundance Institute for this opportunity.

Honestly about the growing pains the municipality and festival have experienced over the past decade and the grumblings from some locals about the PiBs (People in Black) who roam Main Street every January, snowy Park City is considering “ an “aggressive plan” to propose to Sundance to ensure the festival stays where it is, according to a local source.

To that end, part of the reimagining is expanding Sundance’s footprint in the Beehive State, both literally and figuratively.

With 40 years of demonstrated success hosting the Sundance Film Festival, we truly understand the unique needs and challenges of the festival,” Utah Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce told Deadline on Thursday. “We coordinated a response to the RFI with Park City and Salt Lake City. Sundance is important to key partners across the state, and we will continue to work together to collaborate on the RFP and reimagine the future of this festival in Utah. We are excited about the future and committed to making the festival more accessible to artists, staff, volunteers and the public.

Recognizing the rocky road Sundance has had to emerge from the pandemic and the overall shift toward streaming and the pillars of the industry and the festival itself, this Made in Utah collaboration could see a proposed pivot to SLC. “There’s a brand new airport, financial flexibility, venues and history in Salt Lake,” says one insider. “This would allow Sundance to stay in Park City and grow in Salt Lake.”

As for Sundance themselves…it’s radio silence, for now.

While Sundance is focused on conducting a fair and comprehensive review of all possible partners through the RFI and RFP processes, the Institute had no comment Thursday on potential deals or shortlists.

Starting labs in Chicago, Santa Fe and elsewhere in the coming months, Sundance will see its next full festival run January 23-February 2, 2025 in Park City and SLC.

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