RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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"The letter that we're releasing is to give people a grounding," Hernandez told IndieWire over Zoom. "We're still six months off, but this is where we are, and we have this moment to say things are moving along really well, and we're excited to start to share a bit of a snapshot of what it looks like and feels like."
The ethos of the festival has changed from an overpriced ski resort with far-flung venues that are difficult to access in winter weather to a welcoming, friendly festival in a bustling university town, with theaters and housing centrally located within a two-mile radius. "It will likely feel more dynamic in that sense of everything being concentrated," said Hernandez. Related Stories 'Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!' Trailer: Rinko Kikuchi Dances Her Way Through Grief in Sundance Hit Indie Specialized Box Office Chart: 'Pinocchio: Unstrung' Doesn't Have the Same Pull as 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey'
The Colorado government is channeling resources and support : Democratic Governor Jared Polis has been a frequent presence in Boulder, his hometown. "His mom is a documentary filmmaker," said Hernandez. "His dad's an artist. He grew up in this community, and the arts and culture means so much to him. He signed the bill supporting all of Colorado's festivals with this tax incentive bill a couple of years ago." The Governor has designated members of his team to work closely with Sundance , Visit Boulder, the Boulder City leadership, and the tourism office. Hernandez and his team have also built relationships with the president and chancellor of the University of Colorado, hosting a series of packed screenings for students.
Renovations are underway in multiple theater venues, including the addition of Dolby Sound. "We installed 240 speakers into the Macky Auditorium, which is like Carnegie Hall on the campus of CU Boulder," said Hernandez. "These are major upgrades: screens, projectors, sound, seats in all of our venues. So that will upgrade the experience for artists and audiences in a way that this festival has never seen." No more Yarrow, Prospector, Holiday, and Library.
The festival is getting bigger. The U.S. Dramatic, World Cinema Dramatic, U.S. Documentary, and World Cinema Documentary sections will grow to 12 films each. Other sections, including Premieres, NEXT, Midnight, Family Matinee, and more, will also expand. As before, premieres will frontload the festival, with repeat showings to follow, as well as eventual online access for the Competition films. "We're getting a lot of action on watching and starting to invite films," said Hernandez.
Some industry folks are already booking hotels and Airbnbs, while some talent may prefer to stay in Denver, only a half-hour drive away, which hosts fancier hotels like the Four Seasons and a massive international airport hub. "People have a lot more optionality in terms of type of housing and also cost," said Hernandez.
New Frontier is back with a new name, New Frontier FLUX, which champions maverick, independent storytelling.
The international FIPRESCI critics will attend Sundance for the first time and give out new awards for Best Debut Narrative in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and Best Debut Documentary in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize winners automatically qualify for the upcoming Oscars in the International Feature Film Category, such as last year's winner "Shame and Money."
Hernandez's letter is shared in full below.
When I think about the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado (January 21–31, 2027), I think about you, our artists, our supporters, industry and audiences, and how excited I am for each of you to discover this beautiful place rooted in community. It's all happening in less than six months and you're invited!
Our dreams for the Sundance Film Festival in a new place are rapidly transforming into reality. Yes, a lot is changing, which you can read all about below, but our commitment remains the same as it's been for more than four decades. We're upholding the values of our founder, Robert Redford, and building a Festival that will introduce artists and their work to new audiences, uplifting the next wave of independent storytelling, and connecting with our passionate global community and the Coloradans joining us in building our Festival's new home. We hope you will join us in Colorado in January! Below are details to help you plan your journey to Boulder:
The 2027 Sundance Film Festival will take place January 21–31, in Boulder, Colorado. World premieres will be held Thursday, January 21, to Tuesday, January 26 — Festivalgoers will be part of the first audiences ever to see brand-new films, episodic projects, and more. Throughout the entire run of the Festival additional showings of the 2027 program will continue until the Festival wraps.
Our annual Festival gala will take place on Friday, January 22. This event raises vital funds to support independent artists through our year-round programs.
For those joining us outside of Colorado, anywhere across the country, we'll again offer at-home online screenings from Thursday, January 28, to Sunday, January 31, offering films in our five competition sections, including NEXT. Films from other sections in our lineup can also choose to participate in the online Festival program for limited audiences. Press and industry will have online access to the at-home program for the professional community beginning one day earlier on Wednesday, January 27.
Evolving our Festival in Boulder includes introducing the Sundance Film Festival to an exciting array of theaters that will delight artists and audiences alike.
In the new Festival footprint, our venues are all within about a 2-mile radius. On the University of Colorado Boulder campus, the iconic Macky Auditorium is adjacent to the historic Old Main, across the quad from the Roe Green Theatre and near Muenzinger Auditorium. A short walk from campus is BHS...
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