Rumors about the Sundance Film Festival's possible departure from its former home in Park City, Utah, circulated throughout the event earlier this year.
Now, the Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization that organizes the event, has announced that it is beginning the process of exploring a potential new destination for the 2027 festival.
The organization said a request for information process would begin Wednesday and close on May 1, followed by a request for proposal process from May 7 to June 21, to explore viable locations in the United States for the festival.
The event will remain in Park City through 2025 and 2026. The process of searching for new venues does not guarantee that the festival will move away from Park City.
A press release from the institute said: “As the Festival's current contract with Park City is up for renewal beginning in 2027, the RFI/RFP will allow the Institute to evaluate, consider and build on its foundation for an accessible Festival that serves a community.” growing global. independent creative community.
The statement adds: “The Institute ensures that inclusivity and sustainability are always at the forefront of the festival experience, while preserving the festival's key mission and responsibility: discovering and supporting independent storytellers and presenting their work to new audiences”.
Founded by Robert Redford in 1980, the Sundance Institute was recently rocked by the departure of its executive director, Joana Vicente, after just two and a half years on the job. Amid the financial difficulties that hit film festivals in general last year, the institute laid off 6% of its staff.
In a statement, Eugene Hernandez, director of the Sundance Film Festival and public programming, said: “We are in a unique moment for our Festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to responsibly consider how “We can continue to sustainably serve our community while maintaining the essence of the Festival experience.”
Park City Mayor Nann Worel said, “We appreciate our partnership with Sundance and want the festival to remain here for another 40 years. “We will not be alone in the effort to ensure that Utah remains home to new, diverse voices from around the world.”
Once the RFI process is complete, the Sundance Institute will notify selected cities to move on to the RFP. The results are expected to be announced later this year or early 2025.
