Sundance Film Festival Bids Farewell to Park City

After over 40 years, the iconic independent film festival is moving to a new home in Boulder, Colorado.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:31am

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The Sundance Film Festival, founded by Robert Redford in 1985, is holding its final edition in Park City, Utah, this year before relocating to Boulder, Colorado. The festival has been a launchpad for countless independent filmmakers over the decades, helping to commercialize the indie film industry. However, the festival has outgrown Park City, leading to the decision to move to a new location. This year's festival is marked by nostalgia, as well as uncertainty about the future, but organizers are hopeful the festival's core mission of championing new voices will continue.

Why it matters

The Sundance Film Festival has been a cornerstone of the independent film industry for over 40 years, helping to discover and launch the careers of many acclaimed directors, actors, and producers. Its move from Park City, its longtime home, represents the end of an era and raises questions about how the festival will evolve in a new location and whether it can maintain its status as the premier showcase for indie cinema.

The details

The Sundance Film Festival was founded by Robert Redford in 1985 as a platform to showcase new voices in independent filmmaking. Over the years, it has been central to the rise of indie film, helping to commercialize the industry through landmark acquisitions like "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" and "Little Miss Sunshine." However, the festival has outgrown the town of Park City, leading organizers to move the event to Boulder, Colorado. This year's festival is the last to be held in Park City, marking the end of an era for the iconic event.

  • The Sundance Film Festival was founded in 1985.
  • The festival helped host the 2002 Winter Olympics in Park City.
  • The festival was shuttered for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The 2023 Sundance Film Festival, held from January 19-29, will be the last in Park City.

The players

Robert Redford

The founder of the Sundance Film Festival and the Sundance Institute, which has fostered the development of many independent filmmakers.

Ethan Hawke

An actor who first attended Sundance in 1994 and has had a long association with the festival.

Cathy Yan

A director who returned to Sundance this year with her second independent feature film, "The Gallerist."

Matthew Greenfield

The president of Searchlight Pictures, who had his first film accepted into the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.

Eugene Hernandez

The director of the Sundance Film Festival, appointed in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“As a generation that grew up on 'Star Wars,' it's hard not to feel a disturbance in the force.”

— Ethan Hawke

“I feel sad in a nostalgic way, but I also feel hopeful that it's an opportunity for the next phase.”

— Matthew Greenfield, President, Searchlight Pictures

“There's still a really great artistic community here, but there's been a transformation of the city and you observe it when you're sitting in traffic or seeing the capacity challenges a big event brings to a place like this.”

— Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival

What’s next

The Sundance Film Festival will hold its final edition in Park City in 2023 before relocating to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2024.

The takeaway

The Sundance Film Festival's move from Park City to Boulder marks the end of an era for the iconic independent film event, but organizers are hopeful the festival's core mission of supporting new voices in cinema will continue in its new home. The festival's evolution reflects the broader changes in the film industry, as it navigates challenges like the rise of streaming and the impact of the pandemic.