Park Metropolis, Utah — One of many greatest movie festivals on the planet occurs in Utah. Began in 1978 because the Utah/US Movie Competition to develop Utah’s movie business, it has grown right into a signature occasion for filmmakers and actors. Nevertheless, the Sundance Institute is contemplating a future outdoors of Utah.
Again in April, the Sundance Institute introduced its intention to think about different places to host the Movie Competition. Final week, the Sundance Institute introduced the three finalists to host the Competition beginning in 2027. Salt Lake Metropolis/Park Metropolis made the finals as a consequence of its historic significance to the occasion, amongst different components. The opposite contenders are Boulder, Colorado, and (*checks notes*… wait significantly?) Cincinnati, Ohio. That wasn’t a typo; Utah could lose the Sundance Movie Competition to Ohio.
So, how the hell did this example occur? The Competition has had a cool previous a number of years. It went digital for 2 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which annoyed native companies. IndieWire reported that folks have criticized the rising prices of lodging and meals lately. In response to Deadline, the Competition has additionally seen “dipping attendance, in addition to lack of venues and sponsors lately” as a consequence of numerous components. They view the second as a technique to reinvent itself within the quickly altering digital panorama.
Nevertheless, it’s arduous to argue that Utah isn’t the highest contender at this level, as its strengths of simply accessible airport, tax breaks, and accessibility to numerous winter actions nonetheless make it a great place for a movie pageant of this magnitude. A possible conflict level is the state’s extra Conservative insurance policies, which have develop into more and more partisan lately, a transparent distinction with a extra Liberal Hollywood (though Ohio additionally has comparable contrasts). In an interview with Deadline, Virginia Pearce, who’s the Utah Movie Fee director, in contrast the scenario “to attempting to woo again a long-term lover.” One factor being thought of by Utah is making a portion of Salt Lake Metropolis the center of the Competition, making a “Competition District” to make it extra accessible. Extra tax breaks and incentives are additionally being mentioned.
Boulder is one other finalist, with the Colorado Solar reporting that the Boulder coalition was given $1.5 million to assist convey Sundance to the Centennial State. If it had been to obtain the pageant, Deadline stories that $2 million can be invested within the metropolis to enhance infrastructure. It’s additionally a mountainous setting, albeit with much less handy airport and skier entry than Salt Lake Metropolis. Finally, I really feel like the one individuals who can be proud of this modification are those that just like the Buffs, hashish, and frat events.
Cincinnati wooed Sundance as a consequence of its riverfront location and historic theaters. Concerning Cincinnati’s winters, the closest ski space is Excellent North Slopes. Whereas the family-run ski space is nicely regarded for its snowmaking prowess and glorious operations, it doesn’t evaluate to Utah’s slopes. I imply no disrespect to Cincinnati, which is a pleasant metropolis and an incredible sports activities city, however it’s an odd match.
Somebody in Deadline’s feedback part in contrast it to a sports activities crew attempting to get extra money from a metropolis or state by threatening to depart, which makes loads of sense. For my part, if it leaves Utah, it shouldn’t be known as the Sundance Movie Competition anymore. That might be disrespectful to Robert Redford and the legacy he created.
The official choice is anticipated to be introduced in early 2025, following the conclusion of the Sundance Movie Competition.
Picture Credit: Kirby Taylor, Sundance Institute, Noah Morgan, Robert Conklin, Dylan Freedom, Alex Moliski
