Mark your calendars – The Sundance Institute will hold their 40th edition film festival in 2024 that will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah for in-person film screenings on January 18-28. We can expect over 90 feature-length films and over 60 shorts at the Festival. The event will include the option of online screenings from January 25-28 for those interested in attending from home.

The program’s nonprofit annual fundraising efforts go to supporting and encouraging up-and-coming artists through focused labs, direct grants, fellowships, residencies, and more. In this kaleidoscope of artistic empowerment, the Sundance Film Festival becomes a beacon for the next wave of creative film makers surely to leave an indelible mark in the world of cinema.

According to the Sundance Institute, the film festival is “The ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. Our annual program includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, and episodic content. We also host daily filmmaker conversations, panel discussions, and other events. Since 1985, hundreds of films launched at the Festival have gone on to gain critical acclaim and reach new audiences worldwide.” Attendees of the festival will have the opportunity to take in premieres, discussions, and activities honoring independent storytelling in various sites in and around Park City and Salt Lake City. Additionally, venues will have rerun showings so you can see as many films as you can – offering limitless exploration.

The familiar Park City locations of the Eccles Theater, the Egyptian Theatre, Holiday Village Cinemas, the Library Center Theatre, The Ray Theatre, Redstone Cinemas, and Prospector Square Theatre will host this year's in-person premieres, in addition to private events at The Park. Filmmaker Lodge on Main Street will once again host talks and other events, and the Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway, the Broadway Center Cinemas of the Salt Lake Film Society, and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center will host screenings in Salt Lake City.

Eugene Hernandez, the Director of the Sundance Film Festival and head of public programming, explained the midpoint of the festival is a “great time for new artists” to join in. “The midpoint is also when we will be welcoming back Festival alumni from across our four decades — along with the next generation of artists — to join us on the Mountain to take in our special events, see this year’s films and connect and reunite with one another,” he explained.

For a filmmaker, winning the Sundance Film Festival may be a major achievement. One of the most prominent film festivals globally, it is renowned for presenting indie films. A filmmaker can have access to a variety of opportunities, including distribution agreements, enhanced visibility, and the chance to present their movie internationally, by winning at Sundance. It could also result in more financing for upcoming projects and help the director become well-known in the industry. Winning Sundance can also result in recognition from honored organizations and critical acclaim.

If you missed the 2023 Sundance Film Festivals winners, two of the biggest awards of the festival, held from January 19–29, went to A.V. Rockwell's A Thousand and One which won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and Maryam Keshavarz's The Persian Version which won the Audience Award, twice. Some of the celebrity 2023 attendees included Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Johnson, Emilia Clarke, Tiffany Haddish, and many more.

You can buy individual film tickets starting January 11th. For more information on films and tickets visit the 2024 Sundance Film Festival website.