In March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston welcomed the Sundance Film Festival to its new, permanent home in Colorado. “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado as this cements our state’s place as one of the country’s great art capitals,” said Mayor Johnston. With Denver’s iconic venues, like Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, along with our rapidly growing world-class film and art community, there isn’t a better place in the world for Sundance Film Festival to make their home. This will bring incredible opportunity to Denver and our entire state, and I cannot wait to see the next generation of filmmakers get discovered right here in Colorado.”
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston
The Sundance Film Festival will be a tremendous economic driver in Colorado. Last year, the festival generated $132 million in economic impact for Utah, as well as 1,700 jobs for residents, $70 million in wages, and $14 million in state and local tax revenue.
“This is really about the whole region of Colorado,” said Governor Jared Polis. “That’s why the Mayor of Denver was involved, so many others, to really show, yes, it’s rooted in place here in Boulder but it’s the entire state that will benefit and also the entire state that is involved in helping to have a successful festival in 2027.”
Mayor Johnston sends his congratulations to Governor Polis for his incredible leadership, as well as Mayor Brockett, Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, Boulder International Film Festival, Visit Denver, and Denver Film. Mayor Johnston looks forward to continuing working with all of them as well as the Sundance Board and leadership team to build a shared vision for what the next 40 years of this iconic festival can look like in Colorado.