Boulder has been officially announced as the new host city for the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027, as stated in a press release from the Sundance Institute.

Boulder was a candidate pitted against two other finalists: Cincinnati and current Sundance hosts Park City/Salt Lake City.

Organizers revealed that the event’s immense popularity had outgrown Park City, prompting them to look into Salt Lake City and other cities with adequate theaters and accommodation options, according to The Associated Press.

The film festival has resided in Salt Lake City since its inception in 1978 when it was known as the Utah/US Film Festival.

Sundance has become a major highlight in the film festival circuit. Each year, tens of thousands of film enthusiasts gather in Utah to witness the debut of the future stars of Hollywood, alongside blockbusters and eagerly awaited films from well-established creators in the industry.

In the fight for the festival, the three finalist destinations pleaded their case, with Cincinnati proposing an allocation of $5 million, Park City/Salt Lake City proposing an allocation of $3.5 million, and Colorado lawmakers approving a $34 million budget, according to a release from the Colorado Senate Committee.

Colorado’s bill would also use $500,000 a year to support local film festivals to invigorate and support the Colorado film scene.

With Boulder selected as the winning bid, Colorado must prepare to host a major global event that regularly sells over 100,000 tickets and welcomed nearly 90,000 out-of-state visitors last year.

According to an economic report surveying the most recent Sundance Film Festival, the festival created 1,730 jobs for residents, generated $69.7 million in wages, $132 million in gross domestic product, and generated almost $14 million in state and local tax revenue.

While the economic impacts of the festival are a huge plus, the culture and prestige of the film festival are sure to transfer over to Boulder when the attendees visit.

The festival, however, may not be losing its Rocky Mountain vibe. Park City is a massive ski area flush with snow, located high in the mountains. Colorado, known for those same attractions, can help match the former feel of the legendary festival.

The arrival of the festival may also indicate a huge shift in the world of independent filmmaking in Colorado. The Sundance Film Festival is viewed by many as the heart and soul of indie films. The festival, started by Hollywood icon and “Sundance Kid” Robert Redford, is responsible for launching the careers of some of the biggest directors of the last several decades, including:

• Quentin Tarantino
• Steven Soderberg
• Richard Linklater
• Darren Aronofsky
• Wes Anderson
• The Coen brothers
• Paul Thomas Anderson
• Todd Field
• The Daniels
• Chloé Zhao
• Damian Chazelle
• Spike Jonze

Sundance has also seen the premiere of Hollywood classics, including:

• “Reservoir Dogs”
• “Get Out”
• “The Blair Witch Project”
• “Little Miss Sunshine”
• “Saw”
• “Four Weddings and a Funeral”
• “Manchester by the Sea”
• “Napoleon Dynamite”
• “(500) Days of Summer”
• “Whiplash”

More information on the list of films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival can be found on their website.

Per the new agreement, the Sundance Film Festival will be hosted by Boulder for 10 years, starting in 2027 and lasting until the 2036 edition of the fest.