19 hours Ago
Just last week, at the meeting of this Editorial Board, as we discussed the nitty-gritty of Colorado’s budget shortfall , we found ourselves lamenting the sense of bleakness permeating the world right now. If only, we said, we could just have some good news to write about. Well, ask and you shall receive.
A few short days later it was announced that Boulder was selected to be the new home of the Sundance Film Festival , starting in 2027. Boulder’s big win was both a delightfully pleasant surprise and not a surprise at all. When the internationally renowned showcase for independent movies announced last year that it was looking for a new home, Boulder always felt like something of a natural fit.
When we cropped up in the final three, it was hard not to let our hopes get high. The notion of one of the most important film festivals in the world moving to Boulder is, quite frankly, thrilling — and it makes perfect sense. The spirit of Sundance — which prioritizes independent films and up-and-coming filmmakers — feels part and parcel with the spirit of Boulder.
It is not hard at all to imagine Boulderites packing theaters and rubbing shoulders with aspiring directors and Hollywood stars for the premiere of a future Oscar contender — it just feels natural. Becoming the new home of one of cinema’s crown jewel festivals means big things are in store for Boulder, Boulder County and Colorado as a whole. During Sundance’s 11-day run in 2024 in Park City, Utah, the festival sold more than 140,000 tickets.
The 73,000 visitors spent over $100 million, generating a total economic impact of $132 million for the state of Utah, and nearly $14 million in state and local taxes. The economic benefit to Colorado over the festival’s initial 10-year contract is estimated to be $2 billion, Gov. Jared Polis said at the announcement event last week .
And Colorado lawmakers anticipate that the festival will generate roughly $55 million in taxes during that time. Sundance is also a huge generator of jobs. The 2024 festival was responsible for 1,700 jobs for Utah residents, who earned nearly $70 million.
The size and scale of Sundance means the bounty of the festival will be shared throughout the Front Range. With tens of thousands of visitors from out of state likely to attend, people will undoubtedly wind up in lodging in Longmont and Louisville and Broomfield and Denver and everywhere in between. The same will be true of festival venues.
During the 2024 festival, there were 639 in-person film screenings. In 2027, theaters around the Front Range will be called into action to meet the festival’s demand. When Sundance arrives in Boulder, the economic impact will be felt far and wide.
And, lest we forget, Sundance has a lot more to offer than just money. Bringing one of cinema’s premier showcases into our community is going to benefit local artists. It will uplift Boulder’s cultural standing, generating opportunities for creatives and elevating the profile of our entire artistic community.
Our creative scene is already thriving, but bringing Sundance to town will only add to our cultural riches. Certainly, some Boulderites are likely to view Sundance with a bit more skepticism or apprehension. That is understandable.
The festival will bring tens of thousands of visitors. It will bring cars and traffic. It will bring cameras and attention and noise.
And some people simply might want to keep Boulder as is. But the fact of the matter is, Sundance is going to be a major boon for our city. The joyous hubbub of the annual festival will last less than two weeks, but the investments in our community — in our arts and culture and our economy — will be permanent.
Bringing Sundance to Boulder was a herculean effort. The pitch that landed Boulder the win was led by Visit Boulder, in partnership with the City of Boulder, CU, the Boulder Chamber, the Stanley Film Center and a small battalion of state agencies. It also received support from a bipartisan group of legislators currently backing HB25-1005 , a film festival tax incentive bill that might just change the landscape for arts in Colorado.
It is worth taking a moment to thank all those who put in the labor to make this happen. Our community will be better for their work. Boulder is one of a kind.
Now Sundance is set to make our special home even more special. — Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board.
