Get ready for some exciting news from our southern neighbor, Cincinnati. The city has been selected as one of the six finalists to potentially host the prestigious Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. This marks a significant opportunity for Ohio, as Cincinnati vies to bring one of the world’s most renowned film festivals to the Buckeye State.
The announcement came from the Sundance Institute, which opened submissions for host locations in May 2024 and closed the process in June. The evaluation process considered each city’s infrastructure, community values, event-hosting capabilities, and their ability to sustain and support the ever-growing Sundance Film Festival community of independent artists and audiences.
The Finalists
The six cities that have made it to the final phase are:
The Sundance Film Festival will continue to be held in its traditional location of Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, for the next two years (2025 and 2026). However, from 2027 onward, the location could change based on this rigorous selection process.
Why Cincinnati?
Cincinnati’s inclusion as a finalist is a testament to its vibrant creative ecosystem and its proven ability to support and celebrate the arts. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval emphasized the city’s readiness and enthusiasm in a recent statement:
“For over a generation, with consistent support from the City of Cincinnati, Film Cincinnati has positioned the Cincinnati region as a go-to community for movies,” said Pureval. “We know how to nurture creative talent and the skilled workers behind the scenes, and we know how to celebrate them when they are on the big screen. Easily accessible to so much of the U.S. population, the Queen City is also a big league city for broader tourism, handling major events with professionalism and capacity. Both Cincinnati and the Sundance Film Festival are on the precipice of great change and we look forward to partnering and evolving together.”
Cincinnati’s robust support for the film industry and its strategic location, easily accessible to much of the U.S. population, make it a strong contender. The city’s ability to host major events and its professional capacity to manage large-scale tourism underscore its potential as a future home for the Sundance Film Festival.
The Next Steps
Members of the Sundance Institute selection committee will visit each of the finalist cities in the coming weeks to further explore the possibilities of hosting the festival. This in-depth evaluation will involve engaging with local leaders, arts advocates, film commissioners, and other stakeholders to understand each city’s unique offerings and capabilities.
Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair, and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO, expressed their enthusiasm:
“For over 40 years, Sundance has supported, sustained, and helped shine an essential spotlight on independent filmmakers and their work. As we very carefully consider this important decision for our Festival, we believe these six finalists allow us the best opportunity to not only secure a sustainable future for our Festival but also to build upon its legacy while continuing to support the next generation of storytellers and highlight bold new works of art.”
Looking Ahead
The selection process will continue to be thorough and fair, with the Sundance Institute focusing on how each city can support and enhance the festival’s mission. As Cincinnati competes for this prestigious opportunity, the city’s creative community and local government are eager to showcase their strengths and potential.
For Columbus and the rest of Ohio, having the Sundance Film Festival in Cincinnati would not only be a win for the Queen City but a boost for the entire state’s cultural and economic landscape. If you’re interested in making your support known, IndieWire is currently polling readers about their preferred destination for the festival. You can vote here. The final decision will be announced once the Sundance Institute completes its site visits and evaluations, and the winning city will host the festival beginning in 2027.
