It’s official: Sundance is coming to Boulder.
The long-standing film festival will leave Utah, its home for more than four decades, and head to the Centennial State instead. The first festival to be held in Boulder will take place in 2027.
Boulder was one of three finalists to host the Sundance Film Festival, along with Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
In the end, the festival’s leaders decided that Boulder was the “ideal location,” says Ebs Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute’s board of trustees. They cited Boulder’s vibrant community of artists, small-town charm, enthusiastic audiences and breathtaking Rocky Mountain scenery as some of the reasons behind their decision.
“Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town and college town,” says Amanda Kelso, the acting chief executive officer of the Sundance Institute. “It is a place where the festival can build and flourish. This is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we invite everyone to be part of our community and to be entertained and inspired. We can’t imagine a better fit than Boulder.”
The festival will remain in Park City in 2026. Over the next two years, festival leaders will work with the Boulder host committee to enhance infrastructure and accommodation options as plans take shape for the 2027 event in Boulder. They expect Pearl Street to be the heart of the festival, with nearby theaters and venues hosting various events. The University of Colorado Boulder campus will also play a role in hosting gatherings.
Robert Redford, the Sundance Institute’s founder and president, famously studied at CU Boulder for one year and worked as a janitor at The Sink. His daughter, Amy Redford, was on the festival’s relocation task force.
“As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival,” says Redford, who is now 88 years old. “This move will ensure that the festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the festival there.”
Governor Jared Polis said the state is “thrilled” to welcome the festival.
“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,” says Polis. “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.”
But what does the arrival of Sundance mean for the future of the Boulder International Film Festival? BIFF has been a staple of the community for more than two decades, bringing more than 25,000 film-loving attendees to town each spring. The festival recently wrapped up its 21st year from March 13-16, less than two weeks before Sundance made its announcement.
Robin Beeck and Kathy Beeck, the two sisters who co-founded BIFF and continue to run it to this day, were initially skeptical about the possibility of Sundance coming to Boulder. But as they talked with the Sundance team, they say their skepticism transformed into excitement.
“It’s not a stretch to say that BIFF has helped pave the way for a festival like the Sundance Film Festival to come to Boulder,” says Robin Beeck. “We’re proud of what we’ve built here over the past 21 years. And we love watching others recognize how important film festivals can be, both as celebrated arts events that contribute to our community’s culture and as economic drivers.”
Moving forward, the Beecks say they are looking forward to working with the Sundance team to help bring the festival to Boulder. They’re also considering moving the date of BIFF to April starting in 2026.
BIFF is usually held in mid-March, whereas Sundance is typically held toward the end of January.
“Our biggest priority is making sure that both the Sundance Film Festival and BIFF can thrive as valued film festivals in the great city of Boulder,” says Kathy Beeck. “We look forward to all the ways this incredible news will benefit Boulder and the Boulder International Film Festival.”
She adds: “We love Boulder, and we love the art of film, and we’ve championed both those things for more than two decades. We’ll continue to do that.”
