Sundance prepares for its final act in Utah

The Sundance Film Festival, founded by the legendary actor Robert Redford in 1978 in his native Utah, opens its final edition in the state today. It will move to Boulder, Colorado, next year.

Redford, who passed away in September, and Sundance chose Boulder to be the host after it offered $34 million in tax credits over a decade and expanded venue capacity. In comparison, Utah officials offered $3.5 million and a potential move to Salt Lake City.

The festival generates substantial revenue, with Sundance reporting that visitors spent $162.4 million in 2025.

However, Sundance plans to maintain its intensive labs for aspiring filmmakers in the state.

Sundance is known for spotlighting independent films, which often go on to win major awards.

To honor the late Redford, it will screen a remastered print of his 1969 feature, Downhill Racer.

The 2026 program will feature A-listers like Natalie Portman, Russell Crowe, and Ethan Hawke, alongside a slew of documentaries on figures such as Nelson Mandela and Billie Jean King.