It was quiet on the set in Park City during the last two editions of the Sundance Film Festival, as the event was moved online out of concern for the spread of the novel coronavirus.
But the festival is preparing to yell ‘Action’ next month in Park City.
Sundance organizers on Thursday met with Park City leaders to discuss some of the details of the return of the in-person event for the first time since 2020, when the festival run ended just weeks before the pandemic-forced shutdowns. The Park City Council approved the permit that outlines the details of Sundance in 2023. There was no public input prior to the vote.
“Welcome back, Sundance,” Mayor Nann Worel said after the vote.
The mayor and City Council heard the planning for the festival is taking into account the possibility that it could be as large as it was in 2020. In an interview afterward, Betsy Wallace, the Sundance managing director, said organizers are preparing the festival logistics as if the 2023 event will resemble the one of 2020 even if it could be slightly smaller in scale.
“I think it’s going to be very similar to 2020 in spirit,” Wallace said.
If that is the case, the Park City-area economy would almost certainly enjoy a boost from the festival. Sundance has traditionally been an especially lucrative stretch for a range of business sectors like lodging, restaurants and transportation.
Occupancy and room rates were some of the highest of the year while restaurants were either crowded or closed for private functions, and taxis and shuttles were hopping during pre-pandemic festivals. Should the crowds return in the numbers Sundance anticipates, an economic infusion seems probable.
An economic report released after the festival in 2020 found aggregate spending hit more than $150.4 million. Much of that figure likely was generated in Park City and surrounding Summit County since the festival is based in the city. Lodging accounted for approximately $63.4 million of the total, the No. 1 spending category. The meals category and the category covering recreation and entertainment each accounted for a little less than $30 million.
City Hall, meanwhile, is also preparing for large crowds during Sundance, which is scheduled to run from Jan. 19 until Jan. 29. Staffers are readying for Sundance to, logistically, unfold like those of the past, the elected officials were told. Heavy parking and traffic restrictions are planned in the Main Street core, as was the case previously, and there will be a series of corporate interests temporarily occupying space in Main Street buildings.
The 2022 and 2021 festivals moved online amid the spread of the coronavirus, but Sundance is confident in the plans for 2023. The festival in January will be held as an in-person event with an online component.
There had been limited public discussion about projections for crowd sizes and related logistical topics prior to the appearance of the Sundance organizers at City Hall on Thursday.
Park City in the pre-pandemic era was jammed during Sundance, especially over the opening days, as Hollywood, corporate interests, the entertainment media and film lovers converged on the community for one of the top festivals on the global circuit.