Beyond the Festival

What began in 1980 at Sundance, Utah, as a meeting of the minds of Robert Redford’s friends and colleagues, has become an internationally recognized resource for independent artists.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Sundance Institute is a thriving, multi-faceted non-profit organization that offers year-round support to independent film and theatre artists for the development and exhibition of their work.

“The mission of the Institute has been to discover and support artists,” explains Jill Miller, managing director of the Sundance Institute. “We have had the tremendous opportunity to work with, nurture and discover so many talents at early stages in their careers.”

Perhaps best known for its signature event — the Sundance Film Festival — the Sundance Institute has evolved to offer myriad programs in the areas of Feature Film, Documentary, Film Music and Theatre.

“We’re proud of our continuing support of artists working in film, music and theatre, and that we support narrative, documentary and short filmmakers,” adds Miller. “Through the Film Festival and our artist support programs, we’ve helped to nurture the growth of not only independent filmmakers, but also the industry built up around independent film.”

The Sundance/Park City relationship began early in the 1980s as the City played host to the Utah/U.S. Film Festival, which featured American films made outside of the Hollywood system.

In 1985, the Festival added international films to its line-up and became part of the Sundance Institute. That year, 86 films were screened at the Egyptian Theatre and the Holiday Village Cinemas, as well as the Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City. Last year, the Festival screened 194 features and short films at six locations throughout Park City, as well as theaters in Salt Lake City, Ogden and at the Sundance Resort.
The partnership between Sundance and Park City continues, as the Institute recently signed an agreement to continue hosting the Festival in Park City through 2018.

“We’ve both grown together over the last 20 years, and our solid relationship makes Sundance officially part of our community,” comments Tom Bakaly, Park City’s city manager.

In August 2006, the Sundance Institute relocated its Utah headquarters from Salt Lake City to the historic Spiro Mine site in Park City. Searching for a unique space and one that would reflect the independent spirit of the organization, the Institute now occupies space that was once used as a machine and woodworking shop at the turn of the century.

“Park City was chosen because it is the home of the Festival and has been for over 20 years. We are a part of the community, and moving our offices to Park City deepens that connection,” adds Miller.

Sundance’s economic and creative influence can be felt in Park City long after the final screening of the 10-day Festival each January. Last year, the Festival generated $61.5 million in economic activity in the state of Utah, with $52.9 million spent directly in Summit County, according to a recent economic and demographic study conducted by the University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the David Eccles School of Business.

In addition to its economic impact, the Festival showcases Park City worldwide and attracts over 46,500 attendees to Summit County. “The Sundance Film Festival has given Park City prestige as a place to host large events and manage them well,” adds Bakaly.

In an effort to give back to the community, the Sundance Institute has implemented a variety of programs for locals.

“Beyond the Festival, we have a variety of screening programs for the community,” explains Miller. “Our Documentary Film Series, which screens documentaries that premiered at the Festival, runs from October to June. In June, we host the Sundance Outdoor Film Festival, a seven-week screening series featuring independent films that are projected outside at City Park. These programs — presented in collaboration with other local organizations, including the Park City Performing Arts Foundation, Park City Film Series, Kimball Art Center, and the Park City Municipal Corporation — are all free to the public and are an important part of our community programming.”

Frank Normile, director of the Park City Film Series and longtime Sundance Film Festival attendee and volunteer, has watched the growth of the Festival and Park City over the last decade.

“Our community has learned a lot from all this exposure to new cinema. Because of Sundance, our locals are just as hip to independent cinema as people from either coast.”

Linda Jager is a local freelance writer, editor and independent film enthusiast.