When is Sundance Film Festival?

What is Sundance Film Festival?

Sundance Film Festival, a section of the Sundance Institute, is a major American film festival held every year Utah. Portions of the annual festival are held in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and at the Sundance Resort, all of which are in Utah. Originally called the Utah/US Film Festival, Sundance was founded in 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen, John Earle, and Cirina Hampton Cantania as an effort to attract more filmmakes to Utah, Sundance has become one of the largest independent film festivals in the United States. The name changed from Utah/US Film Festival to the Sundance Film Festival when the Sundance Institute took over organzing efforts. Initially, Sundance featured only American-made films but has grown to feature new film work, including feature-length films and short films, from American and international independent filmmakers. 

In its early years, Sundance was hosted in September but moved to January in 1981 in hopes that hosting a film festival in a ski resort during the winter would improve attendance. Other prestigious film festivals include the Toronto festival and the Cannes festival. 

Partnering with AEG Europe, Sundance went international when it traveled outside of the United States for the first time in 2012 when it was held at The O2 in London from April 26th-29th. 

Some of the most famous independent filmmakers to catch their break at Sundance include Quentin Tarantino, Kwvin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, James Wan, and Paul Thomas Anderson. Some famous movie titles that debuted at Sundance include Saw, Garden State, Super Troopers, Reservoir Dogs, Little Miss Sunshine, Clerks, Thank You For Smoking, and Napolean Dynamite.