Sundance Film Festival Moves to Boulder Bringing Big Money

Many Coloradans will excited, many will be upset, and many will be apathetic about Boulder becoming the new home for the Sundance Film Festival.

After Nearly 50 Years, Sundance Film Festival Makes Move to Boulder

The film festival began in Salt Lake City in 1978 as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival. It moved to Park City, Utah, in 1981 with Robert Redford beginning his involvement.

It was ten years later that it became known as the Sundance Film Festival.

It was in June of 2024 that we found out that Boulder was in consideration for being the new home of the Sundance Film Festival. In late March of 2025 it was announced that "The Republic of Boulder" would indeed start hosting the festival.

Boulder Will be the New Home for Sundance, But Maybe Not Forever

According to Variety, the festival struck a deal with the City of Boulder to bring the event here for 10 years, beginning in 2027. I can see a lot of Coloradans making plans to be far away from the state when the festival is happening.

READ MORE: There's a New Way to Watch Movies in Boulder

It makes sense that they would choose Boulder, it has the beauty of Utah, it has an "artist" vibe throughout the town, and Robert Redford attended CU Boulder back in the mid-1950, even working at Boulder's The Sink restaurant.

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Sundance Film Festival Will Mean Big Money for Colorado

According to the Sundance Film Festival, in 2024 the festival saw out-of-state visitors bringing in over $100 million to Utah's economy, it generated over 1,700 jobs for Utah residents, and garnered over $13 million in state and local taxes.

Again, many won't be thrilled about the festival coming to Colorado at all, but it will be beneficial in the end.