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To the Sundance community,

As the 41st Sundance Film Festival comes to a close, we celebrate your incredible work, express our gratitude, and share our deep appreciation for what Sundance means to the state of Utah.

More than four decades ago, Robert Redford had a vision — to create a platform for independent artists to share their work with the world. At the same time, Utah was still something of the Wild West, a smaller state with a quiet reputation for The Greatest Snow on Earth®. When we came together, it was clear we had something special. Over the years, with the Wasatch Mountains as our backdrop, we've grown up side by side.

Today, you're an icon of artistic expression, a cradle for emerging talent, and a beacon for people to feel seen through the art of storytelling. Through the Festival, Institute programming, and the many artist labs, you cultivate creativity, inspire dialogue, and provide a space for artistic expression.

This is especially true for us here in Utah. Sundance is much more than an economic impact or a bump in tourism. For us, it's about the art of film.

Utah has a rich and long history in the arts, beginning with the indigenous people and their tradition of storytelling. In 1899, our state leaders established the nation's first state-funded arts council, laying the foundation for a thriving creative community. Today, we take immense pride in our world-class symphony, ballet, opera, fine arts museums, theaters, and of course, the Sundance Film Festival.

Sundance Institute is a critical thread in the artistic fabric of our state, and your groundbreaking work has had widespread impacts on the people who live here. You are a powerful force, fostering community and understanding.

We're ready to support and partner with you — for the next 40 years and beyond.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox
Utah First Lady Abby Cox
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz
Park City Mayor Nann Worel
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson

Lee Adamson, Executive Director, Explore Utah Valley
Rob Alday, Park City Lodging Association
Scott Anderson, Board Chairman, Zions Bank
Jeremy Andrus, CEO, Traeger
Kristen Andrus, Founder, Gathering for Impact
Felicia Baca, Director, Salt Lake City Arts Council
Tori A. Baker, CEO & President, Salt Lake Film Society
Todd Bennett, President and COO, Deer Valley Resort
Gordon Bowen, Chair, Dentsu International
Steve Boulay, COO, MagicSpace Entertainment
Victoria P. Bourns, Director, Utah Division of Arts & Museums
Dee Brewer, Executive Director, The Downtown Alliance
Steven Brosvik, President & CEO, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
Tim Brown, President/CEO, Tracy Aviary
Adrian Budhu, Managing Director, Pioneer Theatre
Ty Burrell
Kym Buttschardt, Owner, Roosters Hospitality Group
Matt Castillo++, Division Director, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture
Eva Lopez Chavez, Salt Lake City Council Member
Monty Coates, Chairman, Historic Park City Alliance
Michele Corigliano, President and CEO, Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association
Jason Cryan, Ph.D., The Sarah B. George Executive Director, Natural History Museum of Utah
Scott Cuthbertson, President & CEO, Economic Development Corporation of Utah
Gretchen Dietrich. The Marcia and John Price Executive Director, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Geralyn Dreyfous, Co-Founder, Impact Partners/Gamechangers
Dan Dugan, Salt Lake City Council Member
Derek Dyer, Artist and Executive Director, Utah Arts Alliance
Lisa Eccles, President and COO, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Kaitlin Eskelson++, President & CEO, Visit Salt Lake
Cynthia Fleming, Executive Artistic Director, Salt Lake Acting Company
Jay Fox, Executive Director, Utah Transit Authority
Tan France
Jonathan Freedman, President & CEO, World Trade Center Utah
Amelia Powers Gardner, Utah County Commissioner
Kem C. Gardner, Founder, Theater Gardner Companies
John Garfield, Chair, Utah Marriott Business Council
Jordan Garn, President & CEO, Utah Hotel and Lodging Association
Jodi Graham, Executive Director, Utah Humanities
Tonja Hanson, Summit County Council Chair
Bob Henrie, R&R Partners
Laura Allred Hurtado, Executive Director, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
Dustin Jansen, Director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs

Dallin Koecher, Executive Director, Go Heber Valley
Donna Law, Executive Director, Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
Chad Linebaugh, President & General Manager, Sundance Mountain Resort
Jill Love++, Chief Administrative Officer, Salt Lake City Mayor's Office
Darin Mano, Salt Lake City Council Member
Britten Maughan, President, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres
Mike Maughan, Executive, Smith Entertainment Group
Mariah Mellus, Executive Director, Utah Film Center
Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber
Greg Miller, Vice Chair, The Larry H. Miller Company
Jill Miller++, Associate Deputy Mayor, Salt Lake County
John R. Miller, Founder, Dakota Pacific Real Estate Partners
Lindsey Nikola++, Deputy Chief of State, Salt Lake City Mayor's Office
Sarah Pearce++, Deputy City Manager, Park City
Virginia Pearce++, Director, Utah Film Commission
Nubia Peña, Director, Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
Victoria Petro, Salt Lake City Council Member
J. Steven Price, President/Founder, Price Real Estate
Alejandro Puy, Salt Lake City Council Vice Chair
Nathan Rafferty, President & CEO, Ski Utah
Natalie Randall++, Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism and Film
Taylor Randall, President, University of Utah
Julie Rhoads++, Chief Services Office, Visit Salt Lake
Sidni L. Shorter, PsyD, President & CEO, Utah Black Chamber
Rhonda Sideris, President & Founder, Park City Lodging, Inc.
Celina Sinclair, Executive Director, Utah Tourism Industry Association
Melva Sine, CEO & President, Utah Restaurant Association
Linda C. Smith, Executive/Artistic Director, Repertory Dance Theatre
James L. Sorenson, Founder, Sorenson Companies
Ryan Starks, Executive Director, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
Steve Starks, CEO, The Larry H. Miller Company
James R. Swartz, Accel Partners
Susan Swartz, Artist
Sara Toliver, President & CEO, Visit Ogden
Astride Tuminez, President, Utah Valley University
Kasandra VerBruggen, Executive Director, Spy Hop
Deirdra Walsh, COO, Park City Mountain
Jennifer Wesselhoff++, President & CEO, Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Chris Wharton, Salt Lake City Council Chair
Ginger Wicks, Executive Director, Park City Restaurant Association
Troy Williams, Executive Director, Equality Utah
Sarah Young, Salt Lake City Council Member

++ Sundance Film Festival Bid Committee

Sundance Film Festival

Hosted in Park City, Sundance Film Festival is one of the largest independent film festivals in the world. With additional venue locations in Salt Lake City, and great access to some of the best skiing in the world, it only makes sense to pair the festival's promising films with more Utah experiences. You could even expand your trip to include some of the top film tourism sites in the western United States.

The next Sundance Film Festival is slated for January 22-February 1, 2026.

Park City Film Tourism

Park City boasts many world-class dining establishments, including High West, the world’s only ski-in, ski-out distillery.

Park City boasts many world-class dining establishments, including High West, the world’s only ski-in, ski-out distillery.

Photo: Michael Kunde

No trip to Park City is complete without a stroll down Historic Main Street, which features over 100 top-notch eateries and dozens of clothing boutiques, galleries, cafes and shops.

No trip to Park City is complete without a stroll down Historic Main Street, which features over 100 top-notch eateries and dozens of clothing boutiques, galleries, cafes and shops.

Photo: Michael Kunde

Looking to get outside? Park City is a gateway to many winter adventures, including skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, dog-sledding tours, fat biking and more.

Looking to get outside? Park City is a gateway to many winter adventures, including skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, dog-sledding tours, fat biking and more.

Photo: Courtesy of Deer Valley

Dining During Sundance

Utah's outstanding scenic diversity is matched perfectly by its variety of restaurants and dining opportunities. Park City has a world-class culinary scene with mouthwatering cafes and eateries. And along the Wasatch Front, you'll find a thriving farm-to-table scene.

Restaurants in Park City Salt Lake Dining Spots

Skiing During Sundance

Park City Mountain and Deer Valley are within minutes of the diverse dining and shopping on Park City's Historic Main Street. Salt Lake City and Ogden are both gateways to multiple world-class ski resorts with thousands of additional acres.

How to Plan Your Ski Trip Try a Ski Lesson

Park-City-Main-Street_Kunde-Michael_2021

Sundance, Full Circle

Written By Cody Kirkland

5 minute read

When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.

Northern, Food & Drink, Guided Experiences, Film Tourism, Ski Resorts, Arts, Winter Sports, Festivals and Events, Community

Read more

Utah Film Itineraries

  • Kevin Costner rides a horse across a Southern Utah mountain range in the film, "Horizon: An American Saga."

    6 Days

    Classic Westerns of the Silver Screen

    From the alpine backwoods of Jeremiah Johnson to the sweeping vistas of Westworld and all the John Ford's in between, Utah is the place to travel for movie magic.

    Film Tourism, History and Heritage, Photography, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Arts

    See Itinerary

  • 4 Days

    Movie Magic on Utah's Slopes

    Plan a ski trip inspired by iconic movie scenes filmed in Utah.

    See Itinerary

  • 6 Days

    Thelma & Louise: A Tribute Road Trip Through the Classic Film’s Utah Settings

    Perfect for fans of the beloved film “Thelma & Louise,” tour the exact places where the movie was shot, and make some memories of your own exploring the beauty of this exquisite desert.

    Hiking, Film Tourism, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Arts, Glamping, Food and Drink, Ghost Towns, Women's Travel

    See Itinerary

  • 4 Days

    Robert Redford’s Sundance Scenes

    Journey through some of Utah's most striking mountain and desert filming locations to experience the awe of the all-American frontier immortalized in Robert Redford's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Jeremiah Johnson," and "The Electric Horseman."

    Film Tourism, Arts, Ghost Towns

    See Itinerary

  • 3 Days

    The Sandlot Fan's Guide to Utah

    Relive the nostalgia of "The Sandlot," with visits to filming locations around Salt Lake plus some other kid-inspired stops to make your own memories.

    Kid-Friendly, Film Tourism

    See Itinerary

  • 3 Days

    Filmed in Utah: Explore the Settings of Sundance Movies

    It’s a film buff’s dream — a three-day northern Utah road trip through the mountains, desert flats and cityscapes featured in Sundance standouts such as “Brigsby Bear,” “SLC Punk!,” “Nine Days,” “Hereditary” and “Frozen."

    Film Tourism, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Arts, Urban Experiences

    See Itinerary

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