Sundance Film Festival Returns in January

Sundance Film Festival | Image source: Sundance Film Festival (Facebook Page)

Every year, Utah’s renowned beautiful setting is swarmed with celebrities, directors, reporters, and film enthusiasts for the Sundance Film Festival. Widely considered one of the five-most-important annual global film events, this exciting occasion draws filmmakers and industry insiders from all over for a truly international celebration of the medium. 

The originally named U.S. Film Festival began in 1978 in Salt Lake City, showcasing American films and regional movies with the intent to attract more filmmakers to Utah. In 1981 it was moved to Park City, and its name was changed to the Sundance Film Festival in 1984. It has since expanded from a regional, American-driven movie showcase to an iconic film industry event featuring major premieres and movies screened across various categories. 

Sundance takes place in January every year, when the sheen of snow covers Utah, adding to the already picturesque beauty of its setting. This year’s events fall on January 19th–29th and will showcase hundreds of feature-length films, documentaries, and shorts. 

Its unique setting is a big part of the festival’s appeal, with many events taking place in the ski resort town of Sundance, named after film icon Robert Redford’s legendary character from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. This gorgeous land was originally owned by Redford, who has played a major role in both the town’s and festival’s founding and growth. Sundance has a cozy feel with luxurious lodges and fine dining options, nestled in the mountains of Utah’s Wasatch Range. Visitors to this event can hit the slopes during the day and head to a premiere at night. The film festival has many events in Park City and Salt Lake City, as well.

The films screened at Sundance encompass a wide range of categories that accommodate a variety of cinematic interests. The U.S Dramatic and U.S Documentary categories show off works from American creators, and the World Dramatic and World Documentary categories spotlight filmmakers spanning the globe. Midnight features unique, on-the-edge-of-your-seat movies, including horrors, thrillers, and genre-less flicks. New Frontier showcases artists experimenting with film, innovating whether with style, technology, or storytelling. NEXT is about fostering the next wave of great filmmakers by showcasing bold, inventive, up-and-coming filmmakers.

This year’s festival features a diverse array of movie options, much like any iteration of Sundance. There is a timely documentary about the conflict in Ukraine, a modern romance story premiere based on a New Yorker story, a horror film about reanimation, and a sci-fi film about aliens landing in Morocco. It is a global, eclectic mix of incredible cinematic works that will delight film lovers of any kind. 

Tickets can be purchased in several ways for Sundance. The Festival Package is one of the most common. With a purchase of $750, you can attend ten in-person screenings and get early access for selecting the films you want to see. There are numerous other options, including the Award-Winners Package for $250, which allows access to screenings of eight in-person award-winning films, or the Single-Film Ticket for $25 to see any one short, award-winner, or indie episodic program.

Sundance Film Festival is one of the most iconic American film events, bringing creators and performers from around the world to the scenic mountains of Utah. With a decades-long history of providing access to a masterfully curated collection of diverse films, Sundance Film Festival is a must-do experience for any film lover. Read about the festival or see updates here.