The Sundance Institute announced on Thursday morning that Boulder will become the home of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027, replacing the current host city of Park City, Utah. Boulder was chosen above the two other finalist cities, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City, which were selected as finalists in September.
The institute’s contract with Park City ends in 2026 and organizers have said that the festival has gotten “too big” for the Utah municipality. “Boulder offers small-town charm with an engaged community, distinctive natural beauty, and a vibrant arts scene, making it the ideal location for the Festival to grow,” the announcement from the Sundance Institute said.
Sundance Institute Acting CEO Amanda Kelso said that Boulder’s identity as an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town make it the ideal climate for the film festival to grow and flourish.
The film festival traditionally takes place during the last week of January each year. It has taken place in Park City since 1985, when the annual festival first launched.
“Here in our state, we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator, and important contributor to our thriving culture,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said. “Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants.”
The Boulder International Film Festival has taken place in Boulder since 2005. Founders Robin and Kathy Beecks told CBS News that they were stakeholders in the conversation about bringing Sundance to Boulder because of its potential impacts on their festival. The sisters told CBS that they believe Boulder is big enough for two festivals, and the Longmont Leader reported earlier this month that Kathy Beeck said that she “envisions continued growth for BIFF, noting that [2024] was the festival’s best revenue year yet.”
BIFF takes place in March each year. It attracted around 25,000 people during its run two weeks ago. In previous years, Sundance has attracted more than 80,000 people. Primary differences between the festivals are that Sundance showcases bigger-name indie films with industry buzz, while BIFF focuses on community-driven films that highlight diverse stories and documentaries, and tends to have more of a locally-focused, intimate experience.
Phillip Inzerillo, the community and investor relations specialist for Longmont Economic Development Partnership, said that Boulder won’t be the only city that will be affected by the influx of Sundance Film Festival tourism. He expects that Sundance will bring some “real economic benefits” to Longmont, as well.
“We’ve already got over 1,300 hotel rooms in Longmont, and by 2027, we’ll have even more with the opening of Hotel Longmont, an 84-room boutique hotel and event space right downtown,” he said. “We’re in a great spot to welcome people who want to stay nearby but outside the Boulder crowds.”
Inzerillo said that he expects that other Longmont local businesses will see a boost during the festival, too. “In past eventful and busy weekends, businesses have seen an increased jump in sales,” he said. “A big, multi-day event like Sundance will push that even higher.”
Longmont’s creative community is also expected to benefit from the festival, as Longmont has a certified Creative District and more than 1,200 people working in creative fields. “We’re home to artists, filmmakers, musicians, and tech innovators, so there’s potential to plug into side events or collaborations happening around the festival,” Inzerillo said.
The festival, according to Inzerillo, will help to bring more tourists to Longmont and shine a light on the creative energy that grows there.
