When the news broke that the iconic Sundance Film Festival could be looking for a new home, much interest was ignited across the entertainment landscape in the US. Now, we know who the 6 finalists in the race to host this star of the film festival calendar will be. Brandon Blake, entertainment lawyer Los Angeles at Blake & Wang P.A., shares the details with us.
6 Finalists, 1 Prize
Firstly, the good news for Utah. The festival’s current home, Salt Lake City and Park City, remain in the running to host the festival. Boulder, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Santa Fe, and Louisville are also contenders. Whichever city emerges victorious will host the festival from 2027, with its 2025 and 2026 editions still set to take place in Park City.
It’s a surprisingly dispersed list, with a couple of entrants (notable Louisville and Cincinnati) who were not even considered initially by industry experts. The dual inclusion of Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital, alongside its current Park City home, suggests that the festival may want to expand its footprint over two locations within the state.
A Surprisingly Short “Short List”
The festival’s formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process kicked off in May, closing in late June. Of the 15 cities that made the grade, these 6 shortlisted “finalists” will now host the Sundance board members and other key stakeholders as on-the-ground discovery and talks surrounding the festival take place. The final decision is expected either late this year or early next.
It’s speculated that these cities’ strong ties to local art communities has been the real drawcard. While only Atlanta and Santa Fe are specifically known for their film communities, all have a strong presence in the arts. While Park City still has a foot in the race, the concerns about how expensive the locale has become in recent years will hamper it among strong competition. For now, we can only wait and see who emerges as a frontrunner after the selection committee’s visits.
Film and Television 