Atlanta is making a push to host the esteemed Sundance Film Festival. 

Sundance Institute, the entity overseeing the festival, officially initiated an inquiry this month to scout potential U.S. cities for its future venue. Their existing contract with Utah is slated to end in 2027, casting uncertainty over Park City’s longstanding 40-year affiliation with the event.

Following the inquiry, Chris Escobar, the executive director of the Atlanta Film Society, made waves by announcing Atlanta’s bid to host the festival. Escobar unveiled the city’s ambitions to replace the traditional snowy landscapes of Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah with Atlanta as the potential new backdrop for the prestigious event.

Escobar explained, “we’re in the preliminary step of Sundance’s RFI process before we know if Atlanta is chosen to go on to the RFP process.”

Sundance, the undisputed heavyweight of the indie film scene, attracts talent and visitors like a beacon, boasting over 86,000 attendees just last year and injecting a substantial $97 million into Utah’s economy. Atlanta, with its thriving film industry and dynamic cultural scene, has the potential to usher in a new era of Sundance.

“We want to ensure that the Festival continues to thrive culturally, operationally, and financially as it has for four decades,” added the festival’s director, Eugene Hernandez. 

Although a location change is being considered, Sundance still has until October 2024 to make its final decision, and the festivals for 2025 and 2026 are still set to take place in Utah. In the meantime, Atlanta must do its best to present a compelling proposal to the Sundance organizers.