HUNDREDS GATHER IN BOULDER, CO TO CELEBRATE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL’S NEW HOME BEGINNING 2027

(L-R: John Nein, Kim Yutani, Eugene Hernandez, Ann Lewnes, Amanda Kelso, Ebs Burnough, Governor Jared Polis, Gigi Pritzker, Carlos Lamadrid) Photo Credit: Daniela Campbell, Office of the Governor Jared Polis

Festival Executives, City and State Leaders Participated in a 

Press Conference Ahead of the Celebration

On Thursday, March 27, a diverse group of political and community leaders, artists, Sundance Film Festival executives and board members, local residents and business owners, and media gathered at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO for a press conference marking the announcement of the Sundance Film Festival’s new location, set to begin in 2027. The event was attended by several hundred people who came together to celebrate and welcome the prestigious festival to Colorado.

Speakers at the Sundance Film Festival, Boulder and State of Colorado celebration included:

• Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute, Board Chair

• Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO

• Eugene Hernandez, Sundance Film Festival Director and Head of Public Programming.

• Gov. Jared Polis

• Charlene Hoffman, CEO, Visit Boulder

• Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, City of Boulder's city manager

• Donald Zuckerman, Colorado Film Commissioner

• Todd Saliman, president of the University of Colorado

• Paula DuPré Pesmen, Sundance Film Festival supported producer and Boulder resident

Ebs Burnough kicked off the press conference by thanking the State of Colorado, the Mayor of Boulder, and everyone involved over the past year throughout this selection process, as well as the State of Utah and Park City residents, saying “Boulder’s story and vibrant community of audiences, artists, and filmmakers allowed the Sundance Institute to lay the foundation for a strong future for the Sundance Film Festival and we can’t wait to get started.” 

Amanda Kelso remarked “Boulder is the perfect place for building community…Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town, with the key word being it’s a town. Boulder is a place where the Festival Institute – and the region – can grow together.”

Eugene Hernandez stated, “The Sundance Film Festival will always be the Sundance Film Festival no matter where it is. We started as a mechanism for the discovery of new voices, talent, and stories, that is who the Festival is, what the Festival does, and as we evolve that will not change.”

Governor Jared Polis shared “Here in Colorado and across the country, [arts] put food on the table for so many people,” continuing to say, “The economic benefit to the state over 10 years is projected to be over $2 billion. We know it’s about more than money. A powerful film that inspires somebody, is priceless.”