I have been attending the Sundance Film Festival since its inception as the Utah-U.S. Film Festival in 1978. The memories I’ve made over the past 40-plus years are countless, but every year the overall experience remains incredible.
While the festival continues to evolve — such as this year’s closure of Main Street — the essentials remain: knowledgeable, well-trained and friendly volunteers alongside dedicated paid staff.
The festival provides us with opportunities to see films we might never encounter otherwise. The live post-screening Q&A’s spark meaningful conversations that often deepen our understanding of the films. Plus, the chance to meet people from all over the world adds to the magic.
That said, I’ve struggled to understand why the financial model that worked pre-pandemic needed such a drastic overhaul. Doubling ticket prices while reducing the number of films and screening venues feels counterproductive and risks creating a self-fulfilling cycle of declining ticket sales and worsening financial challenges.
Moving the festival to Salt Lake City, Boulder or Cincinnati would completely undermine what makes Sundance unique. The charm and energy of Park City are integral to the festival’s world-class appeal.
Please reconsider moving — it is this Park City vibe that has defined Sundance for decades.
David Bennett
Park City