- Gov. Spencer Cox is optimistic about Utah retaining the Sundance Film Festival beyond 2026.
- Utah is competing with Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as potential hosts.
- A decision is expected sometime after this year’s festival ends on Feb. 2.
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox says he still feels “very good” about Utah’s odds of retaining the Sundance Film Festival in the future, as the renowned event returns to Park City next week.
The governor was asked about the festival’s future as negotiations continue between festival organizers and three finalists to host the event beginning in 2027 and beyond. Utah’s bid would split the event between Park City and Salt Lake City, which are the only two cities that have ever hosted the event since it originated in the 1970s.
“I’m not privy to what the discussions are happening internally, but if you just look at the history of Sundance, if you look at the package that was put together to work with them to help them stay here, I feel very good about it,” he said during his monthly briefing with Utah reporters on Thursday. “The plan that we worked together with Salt Lake City and Park City together, I think, is a brilliant plan and a brilliant model, so I would be surprised if they didn’t stay.”…