Sundance Film Festival

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Sundance began in Salt Lake City in August 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival in an effort to attract more filmmakers to Utah.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/sundance/history_of_sundance.shtml |title=Films – Sundance Film Festival – A Brief History |publisher=BBC |access-date=July 14, 2017}} It was founded by Sterling Van Wagenen,{{Cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/redfords-wildwood-enterprises-and-pbs-bring-skinwalkers-to-the-small-screen-february-21-2002/ |title=Redford's Wildwood Enterprises and PBS Bring 'Skinwalkers' to the Small Screen |publisher=PBS |access-date=January 28, 2018}} head of Robert Redford's company Wildwood Enterprises, Inc, John Earle and Cirina Hampton-Catania{{Cite web |date=2023-01-18 |title=The Growth of the Sundance Film Festival |url=https://parkcityhistory.org/the-growth-of-the-sundance-film-festival/ |access-date=2023-12-09 |publisher=Park City Museum |language=en-US}} of the Utah Film Commission.{{Cite magazine |last=Friedman |first=Megan |date=2010-01-27 |title=A Brief History of the Sundance Film Festival |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1956952,00.html |access-date=2023-12-09 |issn=0040-781X}} The 1978 festival featured films such as Deliverance, A Streetcar Named Desire, Midnight Cowboy, Mean Streets, and Sweet Smell of Success.{{cite web |work=Sundance-A Festival Virgin's Guide |title=History of the Sundance Film Festival |url=http://www.sundanceguide.net/basics/history |last=Craig |first=Benjamin |access-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321160316/https://www.sundanceguide.net/sundance-festival-guide/ |url-status=dead }}

The goal of the festival was to showcase American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film, and increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah. The main focus of the event was to conduct a competition for independent American films, present a series of retrospective films and filmmaker panel discussions, and celebrate the Frank Capra Award. The festival also highlighted the work of regional filmmakers who worked outside the Hollywood system.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In 1979, Sterling Van Wagenen left to head up the first-year pilot program of what became the Sundance Institute, and James W. Ure took over briefly as executive director, followed by Cirina Hampton Catania, who was asked by Governor Matheson to help bring the festival into profitability as the governing board was preparing to disband it due to debts incurred in 1978. Catania generated sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and advertising revenue, and the festival continued.{{Cite journal |last1=Terkla |first1=David |last2=Foster |first2=Pacey |date=July 2012 |title=The Rise of Hollywood East: Regional film offices as intermediaries in film production clusters |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2012.14675abstract |journal=Academy of Management Proceedings |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=14675 |doi=10.5465/ambpp.2012.14675abstract |issn=0065-0668}} More than 60 films were screened at the festival that year, and panels featured many well-known Hollywood filmmakers. Also that year, the first Frank Capra Award went to Jimmy Stewart. The festival also made a profit for the first time.

File:Egyptian Theater during Sundance 2018.jpg, in Park City, Utah, is one of the festival's oldest and most recognizable venues.]]

In 1981, the festival moved to Park City, Utah, and changed the dates from September to January. The move from late summer to midwinter was done by the executive director Susan Barrell with the cooperation of Hollywood director Sydney Pollack, who suggested that running a film festival in a ski resort during winter would draw more attention from Hollywood. It was called the US Film and Video Festival.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In 1984, the now well-established Sundance Institute, headed by Sterling Van Wagenen, took over management of the US Film Festival. Gary Beer and Van Wagenen spearheaded production of the inaugural US Film Festival presented by Sundance Institute (1985), which included Program Director Tony Safford and Administrative Director Jenny Walz Selby. The branding and marketing transition from the US Film Festival to the Sundance Film Festival was managed under the direction of Colleen Allen, Allen Advertising Inc., by appointment of Robert Redford. In 1991, the festival was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival, after Redford's character the Sundance Kid from the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.{{cite web |first=Lauren David |last=Peden |title=Sundance Subdued |url=http://www.coastmagazine.com/archive/pre_dec05/travel_sundance.html |date=December 2005 |publisher=Freedom Orange County Information (coastmagazine.com) |access-date=November 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202623/http://www.coastmagazine.com/archive/pre_dec05/travel_sundance.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}

The Sundance Film Festival experienced its extraordinary growth in the 1990s, under the leadership of Geoffrey Gilmore and John Cooper, who transformed the venue into the premier festival in the United States, on par with Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto International Film Festival (also known as The Big Five). That crucial era is documented in Professor Emanuel Levy's book, Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Cinema (NYU Press, 1999, 2001, 2011).

In 2023, it became known that the Sundance Institute had been considering moving the festival to another city;{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Anthony D'Alessandro,Dominic |date=2023-07-11 |title=Is The Sundance Film Festival On The Move? – The Dish |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/sundance-film-festival-leaving-park-city-labs-1235433473/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} according to Deadline, possibly already when programming director Tabitha Jackson left in June 2022. According to director Hernandez, the festival had been in a "period of evolution for 5 years," when the pandemic "uprooted" audience behavior.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Sundance is moving to one of 3 cities. Here's what we know about their bids |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-01-24/sundance-film-festival-host-city-search-cincinnati-boulder-salt-lake-city-park-city-bids |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Its contract to host the festival in Park City will expire following the 2026 festival. Also, the festival is considered to have outgrown the small resort town of Park City.{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2025-01-29 |title=Sundance Made Park City the It Town. Not Anymore. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/business/media/sundance-film-festival-park-city.html |access-date=2025-03-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Locals consider the festival bringing in too much traffic, plus the Institute's decision to cancel the 2022 festival due to Covid concerns was viewed negatively.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Dominic Patten,Anthony |date=2024-04-17 |title=End Of An Indie Era? Sundance Could Leave Park City As Festival Opens Bids For New Location In 2027; Utah Resort Town Vows Fight To Keep It |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/sundance-film-festival-new-home-host-city-bids-1235888142/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Initially, the aim was to announce a winning bid by the 2025 festival, but this was later pushed a month, to the end of April 2025.

During early talks, Bentonville, Arkansas was mentioned. In July 2024 it was announced the process had selected six contenders for host city starting in 2027: Atlanta, Georgia; Boulder, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and current host city Park City in a united bid with Salt Lake City.{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=2024-07-19 |title=Sundance Reveals Six Final Contenders For Fest Relocation; Park City Bid Among Frontrunners |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/sundance-move-finalists-1236015655/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Out of these, three finalists were selected in September: the united Park City/Salt Lake city bid; Boulder, CO; and Cincinnati, OH,{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/sundance-film-festival-narrows-host-city-search-to-3-finalists/ |title=Sundance Film Festival Narrows Host City Search to 3 Finalists |website=TheWrap |first=Umberto |last=Gonzalez |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=September 12, 2024}} which Deadline characterized as "a bit of the old, a bit of the new, and a bit of WTF."{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=2024-09-12 |title=Then There Were Three: Sundance Shaves Contenders For 2027 Relocation Down To Final Hopefuls |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/sundance-move-finalists-salt-lake-boulder-cincinnati-1236086159/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

The decision to remove cars from Main Street in January 2025 was popular with festival-goers, though whether this is enough for Park City to retain the festival was unclear. At the time, Deadline considered the bid from Boulder to be the strongest contender.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Dominic Patten,Anthony |date=2025-01-24 |title=Sundance: Park City's Pedestrian-Only Main Street Move Proves A Success With Attendees, But Possible Festival Relocation Sees Boulder Flexing Its Muscle |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/sundance-pedestrian-walkway-relocation-boulder-1236267145/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} In March 2025 HB77, a proposal to ban the use of the Pride flag in state government buildings,{{Cite web |last=McKellar |first=Katie |date=2025-03-06 |title=Utah Legislature bans pride flags from schools, public buildings • Utah News Dispatch |url=https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/03/06/utah-bans-pride-flags-schools-public-buildings/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Utah News Dispatch |language=en-US}} reached Utah governor Spencer Cox, decreasing the chances of retaining the festival in Utah since this goes against Sundance's expressed values of a "vibrant, inviting and inclusive festival."{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=2025-03-12 |title=Utah's Hopes Of Keeping Sundance Threatened By Anti-Pride Flag Bill On Governor's Desk |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/sundance-relocation-pride-flag-bill-1236323631/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

On March 27, 2025, it was announced that a ten-year deal had been reached for the festival to be held in Boulder, Colorado, beginning with the 2027 edition.{{cite web|title=Sundance Moving to Boulder, Colorado in 2027|website=Variety|first1=Brent|last1=Lang|first2=Matt|last2=Donnelly|date=27 March 2025|access-date=27 March 2025|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/sundance-tk-2027-1236348874/}}{{cite web |last1=Boyd |first1=Shaun |last2=Erblat |first2=Austen |title=Sundance Film Festival moving to Boulder, Colorado. Organizer calls Boulder "the ideal location." |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/sundance-film-festival-moving-boulder-colorado/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=March 27, 2025 |date=March 27, 2025}}{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Trey|last2=Mathis|first2=Carlos|url=https://www.wdtn.com/entertainment/sundance-film-festival-to-remain-in-utah-reports/|title=Sundance Film Festival gives cold shoulder to Cincy, moving to Colorado}}

UK-based publisher C21 Media first revealed in October 2010 that Robert Redford was planning to bring the Sundance Film Festival to London,{{cite news |url=http://www.c21media.net/archives/51050 |title=Exclusive: Redford plans London Sundance |first=Adam |last=Benzine |newspaper=C21 Media |date=October 7, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2013}} and in March the following year, Redford officially announced that Sundance London would be held at The O2, in London from April 26 to 29, 2012; the first time it has traveled outside the US.{{cite news |url=http://www.theo2.co.uk/general/robert-redford-sundance-institute-and-aeg-europe-launch-sundance-at-t.html |title=Robert Redford, Sundance Institute And Aeg Europe Launch Sundance London At The O2 |first=Stephen |last=Farmer |newspaper=AEG Worldwide |date=October 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505122047/http://www.theo2.co.uk/general/robert-redford-sundance-institute-and-aeg-europe-launch-sundance-at-t.html |archive-date=May 5, 2013 }}

In a press statement, Redford said, "We are excited to partner with AEG Europe to bring a particular slice of American culture to life in the inspired setting of The O2, and in this city of such rich cultural history. [...] It is our mutual goal to bring to the UK, the very best in current American independent cinema, to introduce the artists responsible for it, and in essence, help build a picture of our country that is broadly reflective of the diversity of voices not always seen in our cultural exports."

The majority of the film screenings, including the festival's premieres, would be held within the Cineworld cinema at The O2 entertainment district.{{cite web |url=http://www.sundance-london.com/news/20110315-sundance-london-announced-at-the-o2 |title=Robert Redford, Sundance Institute and AEG Europe launch Sundance London at The O2 |publisher=Sundance London |date=March 15, 2011|access-date=January 19, 2012}} The 2013 Sundance London Festival was held April 25–28, 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/mar/11/sundance-london-2013-eagles-peaches|title=Sundance London 2013: Eagles and Peaches flying high as lineup announced|work=The Guardian|date=March 11, 2013|author=Child, Ben|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

Sundance London 2014 took place on April 25–27, 2014, at The O2 Arena;{{Cite web |title=Sundance London 2014 unveils lineup |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a559689/sundance-london-2014-lineup-features-the-trip-to-italy-frank/ |website=Digital Spy |date=March 24, 2014|access-date=November 16, 2015}} however the 2015 Festival was cancelled in an announcement on January 16, 2015.{{Cite web |title=Sundance London 2015 cancelled, festival's future under review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/11350352/sundance-london-cancelled.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/11350352/sundance-london-cancelled.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Daily Telegraph |date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=November 16, 2015}}{{cbignore}}

Sundance London returned to London from June 2–5, 2016,{{Cite web |url=https://picturehouseblog.co.uk/2016/04/20/sundance/ |title=Sundance Film Festival: London 2016 – Programme Announced |last=Pierrot |first=John-Paul |date=April 20, 2016 |website=Picturehouse Blog |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=May 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501222219/https://picturehouseblog.co.uk/2016/04/20/sundance/ |url-status=dead }} and again June 1–4, 2017, both at Picturehouse Central in London's West End. The 2018 and 2019 events continued at the same venue.{{cite web |url=https://www.premiercomms.com/specialisms/film/public-relations/film-festival-representation/sundance-film-festival-london |website=Premier |title=Sundance Film Festival 2019: London |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-date=August 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828055452/https://www.premiercomms.com/specialisms/film/public-relations/film-festival-representation/sundance-film-festival-london |url-status=dead }}

Films shown at the 2019 event included Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling’s Late Night, the controversial dark tale The Nightingale, US comedy Corporate Animals, Lulu Wang's The Farewell (which won the Audience Award{{cite web |website=ScreenDaily |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/lulu-wangs-the-farewell-wins-sundance-london-2019-audience-award/5140082.article |title=Lulu Wang's 'The Farewell' wins Sundance London 2019 audience award |first=Ben |last=Dalton |date=June 3, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603213434/https://www.screendaily.com/news/lulu-wangs-the-farewell-wins-sundance-london-2019-audience-award/5140082.article|url-status=live}}) and Sophie Hyde's film based on Emma Jane Unsworth's novel about female friendship, Animals.{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/film/sundance-london-2019-line-up-film-festival-programme-a4118851.html |website=Evening Standard |title=Sundance London 2019 line-up: First look at this year's film festival programme |first=Jessie |last=Thompson |date=May 28, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2019}}

The 2020 event in London was postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=March 25, 2020|title=Coronavirus: Sundance Postpones London, Hong Kong Festivals|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/festivals/sundance-london-hongkong-postponed-coronavirus-1203544374/|access-date=September 26, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}} It was not rescheduled until July 2021.{{Cite web|last=|date=May 6, 2021|title=2021 Sundance Film Festival: London to Take Place 29 July–1 August at Picturehouse Central Opens with Edgar Wright's 'The Sparks Brothers' with Cinema Screenings Nationwide and a Simulcast Q+A|url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/sundance-film-festival-london-2021|access-date=September 26, 2021|website=sundance.org|language=English}}

Inaugurated in 2014, Sundance Film Festival: Hong Kong has taken place in 2016, 2017, 2018 and from September 19 to October 1, 2019. It is held at The Metroplex in Kowloon Bay each year.{{Cite web|title=Sundance|url=http://hk.sundance.org/2017/en/introduction|access-date=July 21, 2017|website=hk.sundance.org|archive-date=July 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705031009/http://hk.sundance.org/2017/en/introduction|url-status=dead}}

The 2020 events in London and Hong Kong were postponed due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and as of late 2021 has not been rescheduled.

From 2006 through 2008, Sundance Institute collaborated with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on a special series of film screenings, performances, panel discussions, and special events bringing the institute's activities and the festival's programming to New York City.{{cite web |title=Sundance Mixed With Stars, Politicians |url=http://www.bam.org/sundance/index_2007.aspx |website=BAM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112103655/http://www.bam.org/sundance/index_2007.aspx |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |access-date=April 4, 2014}}

Many notable independent filmmakers received their big break at Sundance, including Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Todd Field, David O. Russell, Steve James, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, James Wan, Edward Burns, Damien Chazelle, Lee Isaac Chung, Jane Schoenbrun, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, A. V. Rockwell and Jim Jarmusch. The festival is also responsible for bringing wider attention to such films as Common Bonds, Saw, Garden State, American Psycho, Super Troopers, The Blair Witch Project, Spanking the Monkey, Reservoir Dogs, Primer, In the Bedroom, Better Luck Tomorrow, Little Miss Sunshine, Donnie Darko, El Mariachi, Moon, Clerks, Thank You for Smoking, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, The Brothers McMullen, 500 Days of Summer, Napoleon Dynamite,{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/sundance-2024-shorts-lineup-anniversary-programming-1234934592/|title=Sundance Unveils Shorts and 40th Anniversary Programming|first=Samantha|last=Bergeson|date=December 12, 2023}} Whiplash (which topped the festival's Top 10 Films of All Time in 2024, as the result of a survey conducted with over 500 filmmakers and critics in honor of the festival's 40th anniversary{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=2024-01-16 |title='Whiplash' Named Top Sundance Film of All Time in Festival Poll of Over 500 Filmmakers and Critics |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/sundance-top-10-films-all-time-whiplash-1234944417/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Tangcay |first1=Jazz |last2=Wu |first2=Valerie |date=2024-01-16 |title='Whiplash' Tops Sundance Film Festival's Top 10 Feature Films List From Past Four Decades |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/film-news-in-brief-jan-16-2024-1235873931/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}), CODA, Boyhood, We're All Going to the World's Fair, Theater Camp and A Thousand and One.

Three Seasons was the first in festival history to ever receive both the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award, in 1999. Later films that won both awards are: God Grew Tired of Us in 2006 (documentary category), Quinceañera in 2006 (dramatic category), Precious in 2009, Fruitvale (later retitled Fruitvale Station) in 2013, Whiplash in 2014, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl in 2015, The Birth of a Nation in 2016, Minari in 2020, and CODA in 2021.

At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, three films went on to garner eight Oscar nominations.{{cite news |url=http://www.sundance.tv/festival/blog/2017/01/8-oscar-nominations-for-films-from-the-2016-sundance-film-festival |title=8 oscar nominations for films from the 2016 sundance film festival |last=Quinnette |first=Celia |date=January 24, 2017 |work=Sundance TV |access-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002095606/http://www.sundance.tv/festival/blog/2017/01/8-oscar-nominations-for-films-from-the-2016-sundance-film-festival |url-status=dead }} Manchester by the Sea took the lead in Sundance-supported films with six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The next year, about 40 films were acquired by distributors, among them including Amazon, Netflix, Lionsgate, and Universal.{{Cite news |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/01/list-of-movies-sold-at-sundance-2016.html |title=The Complete List of Movies Sold at Sundance 2016, and Why Amazon and Netflix Went All Out |work=Vulture|access-date=August 8, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=October 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030192646/http://www.vulture.com/2016/01/list-of-movies-sold-at-sundance-2016.html|url-status=live}}

CODA became the first Sundance film to win an Oscar for Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2022/03/27/how-coda-made-history/|title=How 'CODA' made history for the Sundance Film Festival with Best Picture Oscar win|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=March 28, 2022}}

{{citations needed|date=April 2024}}

The festival has changed over the decades from a low-profile venue for small-budget, independent creators from outside the Hollywood system to a media extravaganza for Hollywood celebrity actors, paparazzi, and luxury lounges set up by companies not affiliated with Sundance. Festival organizers have tried curbing these activities in recent years, beginning in 2007 with their ongoing Focus On Film campaign.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The 2009 film Official Rejection documented the experience of small filmmakers trying to get into various festivals in the late 2000s, including Sundance. The film contained several arguments that Sundance had become dominated by large studios and sponsoring corporations. A contrast was made between the 1990s, in which non-famous filmmakers with tiny budget films could get distribution deals from studios like Miramax Films or New Line Cinema, (like Kevin Smith's Clerks), and the 2000s, when major stars with multimillion-dollar films (like The Butterfly Effect with Ashton Kutcher) dominated the festival. Kevin Smith doubted that Clerks, if made in the late 2000s, would be accepted to Sundance.Kevin Smith, interviewed in Official Rejection, documentary film, 2009, directed by Paul Osborne

Numerous small festivals sprung up around Sundance in the Park City area, including Slamdance, Nodance, Slumdance, It-dance, X-Dance, Lapdance, Tromadance, The Park City Film Music Festival, etc., though all except{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} Slamdance are no longer held.Official Rejection, documentary film, 2009, directed by Paul Osborne

Included in the Sundance changes made in 2010, a new programming category titled "NEXT" (often denoted simply by the characters "<=>", which mean "less is more") was introduced to showcase innovative films that are able to transcend the confines of an independent budget. Another recent addition was the Sundance Film Festival USA program, in which eight of the festival's films are shown in eight different theaters around the United States.{{cite news |date=January 22, 2010 |first=Cody |last=Clark |title=Redford launches 2010 Sundance Film Festival in Park City |url=http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_38fab10a-0120-5c9a-bec2-b0c13dc56df8.html |newspaper=The Daily Herald |access-date=January 22, 2010 |archive-date=January 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124084251/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_38fab10a-0120-5c9a-bec2-b0c13dc56df8.html |url-status=dead }}

The festival went virtual in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancelling on-site activities. The festival returned for in-person showings in 2023.

The total economic benefits Sundance brought to Utah were estimated to be $167 million in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Monson |first1=Quin |last2=Wilson |first2=Sven |last3=Goodliffe |first3=Jay |date=June 2020 |title=Economic Impact – 2020 Sundance Film Festival |url=https://www.sundance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2020-Sundance-Film-Festival-Economic-Impact-Report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208061910/https://www.sundance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2020-Sundance-Film-Festival-Economic-Impact-Report.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20231208061910/https://www.sundance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2020-Sundance-Film-Festival-Economic-Impact-Report.pdf |archive-date=Dec 8, 2023 |website=Sundance.org |publisher=Y2 Analytics}}

In 2022, Sundance programmed and hosted the world premiere of the documentary film Jihad Rehab directed by Meg Smaker. Soon after its premiere, the film would be embroiled in controversy as one of the film's executive producers, Abigail Disney described the film as "freaking brilliant" in an email to the director before disavowing the film later on.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/us/sundance-jihad-rehab-meg-smaker.html|website=New York Times |title=Sundance Liked Her Documentary on Terrorism, Until Muslim Critics Didn't|first=Michael |last=Powell |date=September 25, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/oct/23/jihad-rehab-documentary-making-unredacted-saudi-arabia|website=The Guardian |title='The actual critique is being lost': the truth about Jihad Rehab, the year's most controversial documentary|first=Noa |last=Yachot |date=October 23, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2025}} Despite receiving rave reviews from Sundance audiences and critics, the film was targeted by a group of activist detractors in the Muslim-American and Middle Eastern indie film community.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/muslim-american-filmmakers-open-letter-sundance-1234704004/|website=Indie Wire|title=After 'Jihad Rehab': Muslim American Filmmakers Tell Sundance How to Do Better in Open Letter|date=March 3, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2025}} Rather than stand by the festival's rigorous programming process, which Sundance is known for (standing by its past programming of other controversial documentaries like Cartel Land and The Act of Killing), then-festival director Tabitha Jackson took the unusual step of apologizing for the film's inclusion in the festival.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/film-festivals-controversial-movies-jihad-rehab-1235491953/|website=Variety|title=Why Film Festivals Are Steering Clear of Controversial Movies|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel |date=January 18, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/a-note-from-joana-vicente-and-tabitha-jackson/|website=Sundance|title=A Note from Joana Vicente and Tabitha Jackson|first=Tabitha|last=Jackson |date=February 18, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2025}} As a result, the film was virtually blacklisted.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018885376/meg-smaker-the-most-controversial-film-of-2022|website=RNZ|title=Meg Smaker: the most controversial film of 2022|date=April 8, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2025}}

File:Eugene Hernandez at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.jpg

• Geoff Gilmore – 1991–2009{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Kay |url=http://www.screendaily.com/john-cooper-steps-up-as-director-of-sundance-film-festival/4043584.article |title=John Cooper steps up as director of Sundance Film Festival |date=March 11, 2009 |website=Screen Daily|access-date=January 31, 2010|url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cieply |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/movies/18tribeca.html |url-access=subscription |title=Shakeup in Film Festivals as a Familiar Face Moves |date=February 17, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 31, 2010}}
• John Cooper – 2009–2020{{cite press release |publisher=Sundance Institute |url=http://www.sundance.org/pdf/2009-03-09-cooper.pdf |title=Sundance Institute announces John Cooper as Director, Sundance Film Festival |date=March 11, 2009|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-date=July 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707184230/http://www.sundance.org/pdf/2009-03-09-cooper.pdf|url-status=dead }}{{cite web |website=Sundance |url=http://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/about |title=About The Sundance Film Festival |access-date=September 5, 2019}}
• Tabitha Jackson – 2020–2022{{Cite web |last=Kohn |first=Eric |date=2022-06-07 |title=Sundance Film Festival Director Tabitha Jackson Is Leaving the Organization |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/tabitha-jackson-leaves-sundance-film-festival-1234731501/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517182706/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/tabitha-jackson-leaves-sundance-film-festival-1234731501/ |archive-date=2023-05-17 }}
• Eugene Hernandez – 2022–present{{Cite web |date=Sep 7, 2022 |title=Eugene Hernandez Joins Sundance Institute as Festival Director and Head of Public Programming |url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/sundance-pii-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131162442/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/sundance-pii-2023/ |archive-date=Jan 31, 2024 |website=Sundance Institute}}

• Grand Jury Prize Dramatic
• Audience Award Dramatic
• Directing Award Dramatic
• Grand Jury Prize Documentary
• Audience Award Documentary
• Directing Award Documentary
• Alfred P. Sloan Prize

• List of Sundance Film Festival award winners
• List of Sundance Film Festival selections
• Sundance TV
• Indiewood
• List of American independent films

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=John |last2=Morgan |first2=David |title=Sundancing: Hanging Out And Listening In At America's Most Important Film Festival |publisher=Harper Paperbacks |year=2014 |orig-year=2000 |isbn=978-0-06-228747-2 |oclc=877987502}} [{{GBurl|id=MXbszO0Ia5YC}} Partial preview] of 2013 ed. at Google Books.
• {{cite book |last=Biskind |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Biskind |title=Down and Dirty Pictures : Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film |publisher=Simon & Schuster |publication-place=New York |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-684-86259-0 |oclc=607053232}} [{{GBurl|id=jo1HDZsI1-QC}} Partial preview] at Google Books.
• {{cite book |last=Craig |first=Benjamin |title=Sundance: A Festival Virgin's Guide: Surviving and Thriving at America's Most Important Film Festival |publisher=Cinemagine Media Pub. |publication-place=London |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-9541737-2-2 |oclc=748501778 |url=https://archive.org/details/sundancefestival00crai |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}
• {{cite book |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |author-link=Emanuel Levy|title=Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Cinema |publisher=New York University Press |publication-place=New York |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8147-6520-3 |oclc=55638553}} [{{GBurl|id=I00TCgAAQBAJ}} Partial preview] at Google Books.
• {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Lory |title=Party in a box : the story of the Sundance Film Festival |publisher=Gibbs Smith Publisher |publication-place=Salt Lake City, Utah |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-87905-861-6 |oclc=1194921451 |url=https://archive.org/details/partyinboxstoryo0000smit |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.sundance.org}}
• {{cite web |title=Marketing-Vehikel der amerikanischen Filmindustrie: das Sundance Filmfestival in Park City, Utah: Grass und dunkle Tunnel |trans-title=Marketing vehicle of the American film industry: the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah: Grass and dark tunnels |website=Berliner Zeitung |date=2000-02-01 |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/marketing-vehikel-der-amerikanischen-filmindustrie-das-sundance-filmfestival-in-park-city-utah-grass-und-dunkle-tunnel-li.24869 |language=de |access-date=2024-12-31}}
• {{cite web |title=Sundance Film Festival |website=indiewire.com |date=2016-04-02 |url=http://www.indiewire.com/festival/sundance_film_festival |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504120031/http://www.indiewire.com/festival/sundance_film_festival |archive-date=2016-05-04 |url-status=dead |access-date=2024-12-31}}
• {{cite web |title=Sundance Film Festival 1985–1996 |website=sundance.org |url=http://www.sundance.org/pdf/press-releases/sff-85-96.pdf |date=2008-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811220519/http://www.sundance.org/pdf/press-releases/sff-85-96.pdf |archive-date=2011-08-11 |url-status=dead}}
• {{cite web |title=The Ultimate Guide to Attending the Sundance Film Festival |website=sundanceguide.net |url=https://www.sundanceguide.net/ |access-date=2024-12-31}}

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