Where is sundance held

Many of these films eventually make their way into mainstream society, but their bragging rights stem from their claim of independence from big-budget studios. The Sundance Film Festival is open to the public, with tickets going on sale in advance; locals can even buy their tickets two days ahead of the rest of the world.

For those who are not able to obtain any of the highly-prized advance tickets, a Wait List Line is always a likely way for stragglers to be able to participate in at least one film or venue. For those who do not want to wait in lines or venture out into the cold, the committee recently announced the launch of its Sundance Online Film Festival, where patrons can pay a small fee to gain access to many short, animation, and new-form projects on the internet.

To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The annual festival in Park City, Utah, is where scrappy little indie films go to make it big. Every year in mid-January, a mass migration to Utah happens: Critics, filmmakers, industry people, and celebrities head to the mountainous ski resort town Park City, about 30 miles from Salt Lake City, where the annual festival — a day marathon of screenings, panels, parties, and more — takes place.

Sundance is a lot of things: an exhibition for the most exciting independently produced films from the US and around the world; an early predictor of movie trends; a networking hub for filmmakers and other talent looking to break into the movie business; a forum for discussing issues and groundbreaking technologies that affect film and media; a place to spot celebrities in puffy jackets and furry boots; and a palate cleanser after the hectic fall movie season.

Where did it come from? Why does it matter? Sundance straddles two worlds: the big-name, award-winning movie world and the scrappy indie film world. So paying attention to the festival is a good way to catch the first inklings of Oscar buzz and to get a sense of the issues and topics that are motivating filmmakers and audiences. Put simply, for people who love movies, Sundance is one of the most exciting events of the year. Anything can happen in Park City.

Films selected to play at Sundance must be independently produced, and they are usually available for acquisition at the festival. Whereas big blockbusters and major theatrical releases are often created, funded, and distributed by studios — think Paramount, Sony, Disney, and Warner Bros. When an independent film gets selected for Sundance, its chances of being acquired by a studio like Lionsgate or Sony Pictures Classics or an independent distributor like A24 or Neon go way up.

In recent years, streaming companies like Netflix, Amazon Studios, and Hulu, have had deep pockets for acquisition at Sundance.

Those companies have also been turning to producing their own original content in recent years, which resulted in none of them acquiring any films at the festival in But they all acquired several films, particularly documentaries, in Industry insiders will be watching closely in , since a number of new streaming services from companies with a lot of money to spend, including Disney, Apple, and HBO, may be looking to diversify their offerings with Sundance acquisitions.

Some Sundance films are acquired before the festival even starts, but many films that play at the festival are hoping to generate enough notice and buzz to get sold — hopefully to a distributor that can put enough marketing dollars behind them to translate to box office returns and even awards season buzz. But first, a film has to make it into Sundance. The chances of being selected are slim. Learn more. Come play! Showing 0 of 0.

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