To the community of Park City and the state of Utah: We wholeheartedly want to say thank you. Thank you for being our partners, our friends, our creative collaborators, and our Sundance Film Festival home for more than 40 years. Robert Redford founded the Sundance Institute as a space for artists s o that they, in turn, would have a place to connect their bold storytelling with audiences at the Sundance Film Festival. We are honored that rich history began with Park City and the state of Utah. You have been our foundation, quite literally, as we built a cinematic community with a sense of art, discovery, and belonging at its core together. Park City’s beautiful mountains, snowy landscape, and vibrant spirit have not only served as the setting for our festival but have also contributed to shaping its very essence.The local community has been a crucial part of the Sundance Film Festival, and we, along with our founder Robert Redford, have an immense amount of admiration for the meaningful ways each of you has touched our hearts. As vital members of our Institute team, dedicated and passionate volunteers, partners who have uplifted our gathering, local artists who have collaborated with us, and engaged film lovers who trust us with their time, we sincerely couldn’t have done any of this without you. We’re filled with gratitude for your support and appreciation for independent film over the last four decades and the legacy that will forever connect us.While all of the artists we’ve watched grow and the stories they have shared are too many to mention here, we cherish the experiences that will stick with each of us forever: being a part of that initial spark of discovery whether it be your first Sundance Film Festival or over the many years, the moment you felt a tear roll down your face in a premiere when your heart was truly touched, the sound of a collective gasp or laugh that filled the room, the buzz of the crowd as the lights dimmed in a theater, the eruption of applause when those same lights came up. Both the festival and Park City have evolved over the years. However, one thing that has remained consistent is that together we have introduced the world to artists and storytellers who have become essential to our culture, where they have been supported in visionary risk-taking through stories that have gone on to be celebrated for years and over generations. We have changed the world through impassioned and inspiring conversations in theater lobbies, on neighborly shuttle rides, and up and down Main Street. In collaboration, we have created something remarkably special and we hold these moments and memories close to us.As we embarked on this exploration for the future host location of the Sundance Film Festival, we not only have open minds to the future, but are energized to continue to preserve a space for independent films to shine. We want to particularly thank the Utah host committee and the Park City officials who over the past year have devoted their time, energy,and expertise to envisioning a future for the festival in Utah starting in 2027 and whose passion and devotion brought forward thoughtful, innovative and creative ideas. And while starting in 2027 the festival will be hosted in Boulder, we do so with the deepest acknowledgment and respect for the profound roots that our community has here. Park City and the state of Utah’s independent spirit is something that will continue to inspire us. As part of our valued community, we invite you to join us on this journey.There is only one Park City, and we are so honored that we have been a part of your story for so many years and you are a part of our legacy. We hope you’ll celebrate our truly meaningful shared experiences at next year’s Sundance Film Festival Jan. 22–Feb. 1, 2026, in Park City and Salt Lake City.Sincerely,Amanda Kelso Sundance Institute Acting CEOEugene HernandezSundance Film Festival Director and Head of Public ProgrammingThe post Thank you, Park City, from the Sundance Film Festival appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less