Veteran Attendees Predict Final Utah Sundance Could Be Their Last

This year’s Sundance Film Festival marks a pivotal moment as it prepares for a significant relocation. Attendees are grappling with the impending move to Boulder, Colorado, which many believe will alter the festival’s essence forever.

Final Utah Sundance: A Tribute to Legacy and Change

If you attended this final gathering in Park City, Utah, you would have heard one recurring question: “Will you go to the festival when it moves to Boulder?” Many long-time attendees, like Butch Ward, a media professional from Fort Lauderdale, feel that this year signifies the festival’s true end. He stated, “A Sundance outside Utah just isn’t Sundance.”

Heartfelt Farewells from Festivalgoers

Numerous festivalgoers echoed similar sentiments. A group donned yellow scarves proclaiming, “Our last Sundance 2026,” while another attendee creatively showcased a film reel atop her head along with her sign reading, “the last Sundance.”

Suzie Taylor, an actor with a history at Sundance since 1997, shared, “It’s not just a resistance to change. Robert Redford’s vision was rooted here.” The festival’s founder passed away in September at age 89, further amplifying the emotional weight of this year’s event. Taylor added, “Isn’t it poetic that he passed right before the last one?”

A Legacy Rooted in Tradition

Julie Nunis, an actor from Los Angeles, has attended nearly every festival since 2001. She expressed a desire to continue the traditions established by Redford over four decades ago, emphasizing that she does not want to experience the festival outside its Park City setting.

Redford launched the festival to serve as a platform for independent storytelling, offering filmmakers an escape from Hollywood’s pressures. Although he supported the move to Boulder before his death, many still question the festival’s direction.

Concerns Over Identity in Relocation

Sundance organizers mentioned that the festival had outgrown its original venue, prompting the search for a new location. This decision raised alarms about losing the festival’s identity in a new environment.

• Lauren Garcia, a Seattle volunteer for six years, expressed sadness over the final event in Utah.
• She said, “How will the festival express itself in a new place and continue his legacy? It’s a huge question mark.”

Amy Redford, the late founder’s daughter and a member of the Sundance Institute’s board, remains optimistic about the transition. She acknowledges a steep learning curve but believes resuming her father’s programs will keep his spirit alive in Utah.

Filmmakers will still engage in vital discussions about civil discourse in the state, reaffirming that Sundance will maintain its core philosophies even after relocation.

A New Chapter in Boulder

Nik Dodani, an actor and filmmaker, looks forward to the festival’s move to a state known for its diversity. However, he is concerned that such a change might create a void in representation of various stories in Utah.

Amy Redford reassured attendees that vital aspects of her father’s legacy would persist. She emphasized that the festival’s spirit and impact would be rooted deeply in Utah, even as it begins a new chapter in Boulder.

The transition represents a significant turning point for Sundance, blending tradition with evolution as it prepares for its inaugural event in a new home.