Sundance’s move from Utah to Colorado marks a new chapter.

The final Park City edition of the Sundance festival experienced slower sales and a mixed slate of films, and the festival is set to relocate to Boulder, Colorado next year.

The final Utah edition of Sundance took place amid talk of change. The festival’s longtime association with Robert Redford and Park City has ended after Redford’s death last year and a decision to move the event to Boulder, Colorado. This year’s lineup produced standout films alongside weaker offerings, and the market for sales felt slower than in previous years. Many observers on the ground questioned what Sundance’s identity will be as it prepares for a new location. Key details: - This was the last Sundance held in Park City, Utah; the festival’s founder Robert Redford died last year and organisers plan to stage the festival in Boulder, Colorado next year. - Reporters noted a quieter sales market, with distribution deals harder to secure than in earlier eras of the festival. - The film Josephine won both the grand jury prize and the audience award but remained unsold at the festival, according to reporting. - Olivia Wilde’s The Invite reportedly sold at Sundance to A24 after a competitive auction for more than $12 million. - The Australian queer horror Leviticus was reported to have been acquired by Neon for about $5 million, helping maintain the festival’s horror strand. - Documentary premieres continued to perform strongly: all five Oscar-nominated documentaries this year had premiered at Sundance, per coverage. Summary: The move to Colorado closes a long chapter for Sundance in Utah and raises questions about the festival’s role amid changing market dynamics and shifting expectations for independent cinema. Slower sales and a mix of breakout successes and disappointments underscored pressure on Sundance’s market function. The festival will return in Boulder next year, where its identity and influence will be observed as the event adapts to a new setting.