(C) Rolling Stone
The Sundance Film Festival has been held annually for ten days in late January in Park City, Utah, USA. This year, it takes place from January 23rd to February 2nd. This will be the final festival held in Park City. In search of a broader and more suitable venue to realize its greater ambitions, the festival has decided to move to Boulder, Colorado. In 1985, the Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford, fully acquired the festival, officially naming it the Sundance Film Festival. This year marks its 42nd edition.
In the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," the character played by Robert Redford was named "Sundance Kid." Since this film made him a global star, he named the festival he founded the "Sundance Film Festival." Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 89. Therefore, this year's festival is naturally a grand farewell and a memorial honoring his legacy. The festival has adopted the slogan: "A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford and a Celebration of the 40-Year Legacy in Park City."
Reflecting on the final days in Park City, iconic works discovered at Sundance over the years will be screened again. Restored versions of films such as 'Little Miss Sunshine', 'Mysterious Skin', and 'House Party' will be shown. The Park City Chamber of Commerce will host a special musical performance at the top of Main Street on Sunday, January 25th, at 5:30 PM. The Sundance Institute is also preparing a large-scale farewell event with the Park City community on January 30th.
At this year's Sundance, a film starring and produced by actors Son Suk-ku and Choi Hee-seo has been officially invited to the "U.S. Dramatic Competition" section, often called the heart of the festival. This is the first such invitation in six years since 'Minari'. The film will have its world premiere on January 24th. It is the autobiographical debut of Korean-American director Stephanie Ahn, an immigrant drama depicting the process of Audrey (Choi Hee-seo), a Korean-American woman, and Eli (Son Suk-ku), a former wrestler who was an adoptee, healing each other's wounds and forming a relationship. Additionally, Korean-American director So Yong Kim has been appointed as a jury member for the "World Cinema Dramatic Competition." Kim has directed films such as 'Treeless Mountain' and 'For Ellen'. In the "Next" category, 'Zi', the new work by Korean-American director Kogonada, has been submitted.
For several years, the Sundance Film Festival has been openly searching for a different location. Although the conditions offered by Utah—which gained significant prestige and economic income from Sundance—must have been exceptional, the decision was ultimately made in favor of Boulder, Colorado. First and foremost, Park City is too small. The European-style Main Street is narrow and short. When snow piles up on the shoulders during heavy snowfalls, the roads become even narrower. Neither theaters nor hotels can keep up with demand, causing prices to skyrocket. There was no proactive response to these issues, and many residents complained about the inconvenience.
For the Sundance Film Festival, now over 40 years old, to spread its wings, it needs a larger space. Independent cinema, above all, means independence from massive capital. With a solid story, a film can be made grand or spectacular using fresh newcomers with lower salaries and advanced IT graphics. That is why the Sundance Institute evaluates and selects screenplays to provide support through experts. This is how it has expanded the foundations of the film industry.
I watch almost every new movie in the theater. Sometimes it's because I have the time, but also because theater tickets are so cheap. Nevertheless, the reason people are turning away from theaters is due to the advantages of monopolistic OTT platforms like Netflix: "the ability to watch at a convenient time, in a comfortable space, and at a low cost." Even when theaters are empty, it is difficult to screen independent films. This is because a few giant capital powers virtually control everything from production to distribution and exhibition platforms.
An incredible shift in the industrial ecosystem, led by AI and robots, is approaching. Small businesses and local merchants will be hit harder than large corporations, and independent films will suffer more than commercial ones. I wish the Sundance Film Festival the best of luck as it seeks a breakthrough by moving to a wider place.
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