Is it time to say bye to Sundance Film Festival Utah?

Sundance Film Festival has sent out feelers for other host city options for after it's contract runs out with Park City.

The contract with Sundance Film Festival and Park City comes to an end in 2027 and the event has started exploring options for a new host city. Bids will be accepted and Park City says it will be in the line-up looking to keep the festival.

What do you think if the film festival decided to move would this be a tragic end to a beautiful legacy or is it more of a don’t let the door hit you on the way out situation?

Finances:
One of the reasons for the possible move is financial. Amidst the aftermath of the pandemic, major film festivals like Sundance, Toronto, and Berlin find themselves grappling with financial challenges. Sundance Film Festival, for instance, faced annual losses totaling approximately $6 million in both 2021 and 2023. Concurrently, donations to the Sundance Institute dwindled by $15 million last year. Additionally, the festival witnessed a decline in the number of distribution deals struck, reflecting an industry-wide trend of reduced expenditure on content.

Traffic:
While the Sundance Film Festival has long been held as a feather in the cap for Utah there have been plenty of voices of locals complaining about how Park City was not built to handle the seasonal crowds that the festival brings. Some people, while grateful for the attention, would be happy to see the crowds move on to a location with a better infrastructure including more theaters to showcase the work.

Utah Brand:
It has also been noted that Utah is a beautiful backdrop for the festival and the community support has been impressive. Volunteers, venues and the general vibe of Park City has been a part of the festival since 1985 and some say that special feeling will be hard to replace.