SALT LAKE CITY — State and local leaders say they are "disappointed" in the Sundance Institute's decision Thursday to move the iconic Sundance Film Festival out of its original home.

But they're already exploring what's next — which may include a rival film festival — as Sundance announced it is heading to Boulder, Colorado.

"We have already begun meeting with partners, stakeholders and creative voices to create a new festival — one that honors our legacy and writes the next chapter of independent film in Utah," said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a statement.

Cox reiterated that Utah wanted Sundance to stay and still believes its departure is a "mistake." The event originated as the Utah/United States Film Festival, debuting at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City. The Sundance Institute took over in 1984 after the event was relocated to Park City.

The governor said he believes Utah had put together a "highly competitive package" with its proposal to split the event between Salt Lake City and Park City after the institute announced it would explore its options beyond 2026.

KSL.com obtained an overview of what Utah offered, which included a bevy of new private and public funds over the next 10 years. It included more than $12 million in annual in-kind and cash incentives, as well as over $30 million in annual in-kind and cash incentives from private entities — most of which would have come from a shakeup in corporate sponsorships.

Over two dozen venues were proposed between the two cities, as well as a free transit service option linking the two.

"For the past year, we put our heart and soul into finding a way to keep Sundance in Utah. I am proud of our team in Park City and thankful to the Utah Bid Committee for their commitment and creativity," said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. "Frankly, I don't know if there is anything else we could have done."

It ultimately wasn't enough.

"Today hurts. It's hard to say goodbye to the Sundance Film Festival," said Utah-based director Cole Wembley, who showed his first feature, "Omaha," at Sundance earlier this year. "Sharing that week 'on the mountain' as audiences and filmmakers throughout the years has been tremendously inspiring."

While reports in recent weeks suggested that some of the Utah Legislature's recent bills, including one preventing pride flags from being displayed in classrooms and public buildings, could influence Sundance's decision, institute officials insisted Thursday that politics wasn't a factor.

Officials instead said they saw Boulder as an attractive "art town, tech town, mountain town and college town" with the "keyword being town."

"Boulder is a place where the Festival Institute — and the region — can grow together," the institute wrote, in part.

Nevertheless, that meant splitting up with the only two cities that have ever hosted the event. Park City Mayor Nann Worel said the upcoming departure marks "the end of an incredible era."

Read more:

End of an era: Sundance to leave Park City for Boulder, Colorado, in 2027

Following a yearlong evaluation process, the Sundance Institute announced Thursday the film festival will be leaving Utah, its home for over 40 years.

The event will still return in 2026, but Utah's focus is now shifting to what's next. Worel added that Thursday's decision is "not the end of Park City's magic."

"For over 40 years, we weren't just the host of the Sundance Film Festival. Park City was part of the beating heart of the independent spirit that made it such a success," she said. "While I am deeply disappointed, I'm grateful for the legacy we built together."

She, along with Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Utah Film Commission director Virginia Pearce, also issued a joint statement, noting that Utah remains "committed to fostering the arts" in the state, where "the spirit of storytelling will always thrive."

That could be on display through a new film festival.

"We'll keep doing what we've always done: supporting filmmakers and building a world-class film economy right here in Utah," Cox said.

Webley said "As sad as the news is today — I'm hopeful the love of independent film continues to be part of the history and the future of our great state. I am ready to do my part and I know many others are too. This is not the end of Utah's influence and connection to nature, humanity, and art."

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