Sundance Film Festival
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You don’t have to be a filmmaker to realize that capturing this pivotal moment and historic opportunity is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and then the shot is gone. As the iconic song from the musical Hamilton‘s lyrics to “My Shot” are playing in my mind – “I’m not throwin’ away my shot…” – I hope that Colorado doesn’t throw away its shot to elevate our state’s artistic landscape and ignite our economy for many years to come by becoming the new home of the globally iconic Sundance Film Festival.
As a finalist under consideration to host the festival starting in 2027, we must seize our shot. Now is the time to invest in our state’s creative and economic future, and showcase why Colorado is the perfect canvas for the Sundance Film Festival’s next chapter. The numbers speak volumes and tell just part of the story of why it makes sense to compete for the festival. In 2024, the Sundance Film Festival contributed over $132 million to Utah’s economy, creating 1,730 jobs and generating $67.9 million in wages. Over 24,000 out-of-state visitors were drawn to the event.
Colorado is poised to experience similar, if not greater, economic benefits. This influx of visitors will significantly enrich our cultural tourism sector and creative industries, particularly during January, traditionally a quieter time. This translates to increased business for the artistic venues that host screenings and other events, as well as the ripple effect to benefit area hotels, restaurants and many small businesses in Boulder and throughout the Denver metro region.
Arts and cultural production account for 3.7 percent of our state’s economy, or $18.1 billion in economic activity, and contribute 104,163 jobs. In the seven-county metro region alone, which includes Boulder, the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts‘s 2023 Economic Activity Study of Metro Denver Culture demonstrated that nonprofit arts and culture contributed a record $2.6 billion to the regional economy in 2022.
However, the benefits of landing the Sundance Film Festival go beyond the economic to strengthening our state’s artistic and cultural attributes. Colorado is renowned for embracing free speech and artistic expression, and our state’s commitment to a vibrant arts and culture scene makes us an ideal host for the Sundance Film Festival. With thirty creative districts in the state, arts and culture are just as central to the Colorado lifestyle as the outdoors. Welcoming the Sundance Film Festival would further amplify the arts in Colorado, drawing even more talent and further sculpting our reputation as a creative hub. Festival attendees will stay in Boulder and surrounding communities, where they will discover our world-class amenities. Festival visitors are likely to extend their stays, travel to our mountain communities, and plan return trips.
It’s time for action, to take our shot, and to further illustrate our dedication, Colorado has taken proactive steps to champion the film industry and film festivals across the state. HB25-1005: Colorado Film Festival Incentive Tax Credit embodies this commitment. This legislation will leverage a new film festival incentive tax credit to attract a large, globally prominent film festival like the Sundance Film Festival, while also providing $500,000 annually to support our existing local film festivals, cultivating a rich film festival ecosystem. This dual approach ensures both significant regional impact and the nurturing of our growing film festival community.
The Colorado Film Festival Tax Credit will invest $34 million in tax incentives with a proven return on investment of $134 million. However, despite the economic return, some believe the state shouldn’t have to offer financial incentives to attract the Sundance Film Festival to move to Colorado. Perhaps that is naÁ¯ve and/or short-sighted for the future gains, both economically and culturally.
Hosting the Sundance Film Festival in Boulder would be more than an annual event; it would be a catalyst for economic and cultural growth and an investment in Colorado’s future workforce. The Sundance Institute is dedicated to the discovery of independent artists and seeks to discover, support and inspire independent filmmakers around the world. Having Colorado as the backdrop for the festival brings with it a whole new level of possibility and momentum. Beyond filmmaking, every single industry utilizes videography to produce content to market their business, including social media, commercials, etc. The Sundance Film Festival would further stimulate these strategic workforce pathways to an industry with high-paying jobs with or without a four-year college degree.
Let’s show the world that Colorado is ready to compete, take its shot, make history and become the new home of the Sundance Film Festival by supporting HB25-1005.
Christin Crampton Day is the executive director of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts. HB1005 is scheduled to go before the Senate Finance committee at 2 p.m.Tuesday, March 25.
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