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$3 million proposed to incentivize Sundance to stay in the Beehive State

Jan 24, 2025, 2:11 PM

Sundance Film Festival Marquee...

Sundance Film Festival Marquee (Maya Dehlin)

(Maya Dehlin)

SALT LAKE CITY — As filmgoers flock to Park City, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is lobbying the Legislature for the funds to keep the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

On Friday, they recommended to the Economic and Community Development Appropriations Subcommittee that the state budget $3 million for Sundance. The budget includes $1.5 million as a one-time payment and $1.5 million as an ongoing payment, starting in the 2026 fiscal year. 

Office of Tourism Managing Director Natalie Randall talked about the importance of the film festival being in Utah.

“We know that Sundance is an attraction to the state and it puts the state on the international map as well,” Randall said. “We want to improve and lean into that partnership more.”

Randall said they should know by spring whether Utah will continue to host the film festival. Presently, other potential hosts include Boulder, Colorado and Cincinnati, Ohio. Whichever location is chosen will be expected to host Sundance starting in 2027.

If Sundance does not stay in Utah, those dollars will be reallocated elsewhere.

“The commitment to you that we’ve outlined in the governor’s budget is based on them committing to stay in Utah,” Randall explained to the committee. “So if they decide not to stay, that funding source doesn’t continue to go toward that.”

To pay for Sundance and other budget proposals this year, the Legislature has to make some cuts. Those proposed cuts include money for the Office of Tourism. Another proposed cut is for an incentive program the Utah Film Commission uses to draw filmmakers to Utah, among other things.

Heather Peterson is a reporter and producer for KSL NewsRadio. She also produces Utah’s Noon News. 

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$3 million proposed to incentivize Sundance to stay in the Beehive State