Sundance will unfold as planned amid the devastating wildfires that continue to burn around Los Angeles.
Though the film festival takes place in Park City, many attendees including filmmakers, studio executives and actors are making the trek to the tiny ski town from southern California. Several Hollywood events in the Los Angeles area, such as the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA Tea Party and announcements for SAG, WGA and PGA nominations, were either postponed or canceled in wake of the devastation.
“Over the past few days, we’ve had many conversations with artists, volunteers, industry/press, trustees, donors, partners and staff,” Sundance’s acting CEO Amanda Kelso and festival director Eugene Hernandez said in a note to L.A.-area industry professionals. “The losses we’re witnessing and so many are experiencing are hard to fathom and deeply emotional. Yet, as we continue planning for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival — just 10 days away — we’re moved by the resilience amidst the devastating loss.”
Sundance will take place from Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. The 41st edition may be the next-to-last in Park City, with Boulder and Cincinnati as other possible homes for the festival starting in 2027.
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“Right now, we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on. Soon, we’ll gather for Sundance’s 41st Festival to discover a new year of films and filmmakers,” the letter from organizers continued. “Despite the challenges so many are confronting, we’re making our final preparations for this year’s festival, as in times like these, our mission to support artists, uplift their work and connect to communities is paramount.”
Some of the films that’ll get a boost from Park City premieres include Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” an adaptation of the stage musical featuring Diego Luna, Tonatiuh and Jennifer Lopez; Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s “Together,” a horror story about a codependent couple pushed to the brink; “Train Dreams” starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones; and Andrew Ahn’s “The Wedding Banquet,” a queer, green-card-marriage romantic comedy with Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone.
“Sundance exists to discover artists, celebrate their work and support storytelling that connects people through the power of film,” they concluded. “We know that coming together as a community can be both healing and catalytic.”