This past Thursday, the Sundance Institute announced that it will be moving the Sundance Film Festival from Park City to Boulder starting in 2027. This is sad. Sundance has been based in Park City since 1981 and it's the largest independent film festival in the US. Last year (2024), it is estimated that it created 1,730 jobs for residents, contributed $132 million in GDP to Utah, and produced about $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue.
Here's what Park City Mayor Nann Worel had to say following the announcement:
“For over 40 years Park City wasn’t just the host of the festival, we were its home. We helped shape the identity of Sundance with our unique energy, our colorful people, our undeniable spirit,” Worel said. “The world came here for film, yes, but they stayed for something more. They stayed for the feeling this town gave them. So, yes, I’m disappointed. Deeply. I know many of you are, too.”
“To our community: We are not defined by one event. Our creative spirit is deeper than any single festival. And while Sundance may be leaving, Park City isn’t going anywhere,” Worel said.
As I understand it, Utah offered to nearly double the amount of funding that they provide to the arts festival. But that clearly wasn't enough. There's also speculation that the festival left because it had overgrown Park City and/or because Colorado is viewed as being more liberal. There are people in Utah who do not approve of some of the content shown at said festival. I have no idea as to the actual reasons. But I do think it's a real loss for Utah.
Cover photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
Tomorrow is opening day for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City. This year it takes place from January 23 to February 2. For those of you who maybe aren't familiar, Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the US. In 2023, it had 423,234 combined in-person and online viewers, and, last year, it saw 72,840 in-person attendees (in a city with just over 8,000 people). So even though there's an online component, it's still very much an IRL experience.
If any of you have been before, you'll know that it's an awesome time to be in Park City. I have vivid memories of singing Phil Collins in a karaoke Uber. The bars and restaurants are also packed and the sidewalks are overflowing with people. So much so that, this year, Main Street is going to be converted to pedestrian only, which I understand is a first. The urbanist in me was obviously happy to hear this, and I now look forward to seeing it play out on the socials.
If any of you are interested in attending, Parkview Mountain House still has some dates available during the festival. Here's the link.
Cover photo by Kirby Taylor on Unsplash
A friend of mine just sent out a group city builder email about My Piece of the City, which is a new documentary that is screening all weekend here in Toronto at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
The film is a critique on the revitalization of Regent Park, told through local residents and their efforts to stage a community musical (which happened in real life).
The Daniels Corporation, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing, is the developer and builder for the entire 69 acre community. The Daniels Foundation also funded the musical and this documentary.
But, despite this backing, the Globe and Mail has said that it remains a “healthy critique” of this entire process. And the trailer certainly gives you that impression.
I am sure that this documentary will be of interest to many of you, so if you would like to grab tickets for this weekend, you can do that here.