For filmmakers, an expensed trip to Park City, Utah right after the holidays may sound too good to be true, and snow-capped evergreens in the horizon behind the neon cinema marquees are almost too cinematic. Sundance Film Festival marries the aesthetics of the outdoors with the aesthetics of the silver screen as they put on the largest independent film festival in the United States. The festival began in the summer of 1978, then moved to mid-winter a few years later to tempt Hollywood with the winter ambiance of a ski city in January.
Après-ski aside, Sundance is the premiere U.S. film festival, often called the American version of the Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Toronto film festivals. It has launched the careers of numerous prominent filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler, and brought attention to noteworthy films such as “500 Days of Summer,” “The Blair Witch Project” and “American Psycho.” The festival started as a haven for indie filmmakers, but has spawned into a corporate media extravaganza that pulls in an estimated $167 million in revenue for the state of Utah. Its rise in prominence isn’t quite for everyone, with some indie filmmakers irritated at the festival’s star power, exclusive events and after parties that tend to push out independent and lower budget films.
Among the 82 feature film’s rolling this year are “Love Me,” starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, and Sundance veteran Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence,” starring Julia Fox and Lucy Liu. But with the festival’s historic run, going in blind will all but guarantee you a great movie experience.
The Specs
- Last year 86,824 people attended.
- Festival passes run from $250 to $850, but single tickets can be purchased for $30.
- Download the Sundance Film Festival app.
- Need something to do between viewings? Check out a show at the Salt Lake City venue we reviewed here. If you love Utah winter festivals, you’ll love a summer one. And here‘s our guide to the state.
FAQs
What is the closest airport to the Sundance Film Festival?
Salt Lake City Airport is the closest airport to the Sundance Film Festival, 36 miles away.
Where is the festival held?
The festival is held in Utah, and is held across Park City, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sundance Resort.
Which films will be screened at Sundance?
See the entire lineup here.
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