The upcoming 2010 Sundance Film Festival runs January 21st - 31st in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance Resort. This international film festival began in 1978 in Salt Lake City as the US Film Festival. In 1981, the festival moved to Park City and in 1984, Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute took over management and subsequently changed the name to The Sundance Film Festival.

The Festival was originally a platform for low-budget, independent American filmmakers from outside the Hollywood system. Because several low budget films that premiered at Sundance went on to become major commercial successes, the festival quickly gained a reputation as a place where emerging talent can be discovered. As a result, Sundance has evolved into a major event for the film industry. It attracts the kind of famous and powerful actors, directors, producers, distributors, agents, and other Hollywood insiders that the film festival originally eschewed.

In recent years Sundance has strived to distance itself from the commercial overtones that have invaded the festival, and focus on its roots. Despite the infusion of interest from Hollywood, Sundance has maintained its status as the premiere showcase for independent filmmakers. While some more commercial premieres have been added to the lineup, the focus is still on American dramatic and documentary features while showcases for world cinema, short films, and other categories have been strengthened and expanded.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the festival has made getting tickets something of a chore. The best way is to register online for a time slot during which you can order tickets. Go to www.sundance.org to see details. Festival goers who cannot obtain tickets in advance may buy same-day tickets by lining up early in the morning at the festival box office, or line up for wait list tickets at a theater two hours before a scheduled showing. You can also drive down to Salt Lake City or the other out-of-town venues where the lines are not as long and tickets are easier to purchase.

Besides film, the Sundance Film Festival is accompanied by multiple concerts, parties, media events, labs and workshops. Park City is more alive and vibrant (and crowded) than any other time of the year so be prepared for waiting - not only for films but also to get into restaurants, bars, stores, parking spots, etc. On the flipside, just hanging out can be pretty fun as there are always colorful personalities, unusual fashion statements, and idiosyncratic behavior on display.