In 1981, Robert Redford, an Utah resident helped to form the Sundance Institute, an organization dedicated to enhancing the artistic quality of films. The Sundance Film Festival is an American film festival organised by the same institute. Celebrating independent filmmakers, Sundance is the biggest annual independent-film festival held in the United States. Each year, the festival receives numerous independent films from all across the world, in different languages, representing different genres — from animation to cult films. The mission of the Festival is to find features and documentaries that “inspire, challenge, delight, startle, move and thrill” viewers. The year 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival and the second consecutive year that the submissions received have already exceeded 12,000 films. The ten day festival is scheduled for January 16-26, 2014. Sundance is a favorite tradition for locals. The event attracts cinema buffs from all around the world.
Important Information
Location: Screenings of film are spread in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Park City and the Sundance Resort, Utah. However, Park City is the permanent seat of tall the major activities.
Tickets: The Sundance Film Festival is open to the public. Tickets cost $10 per show and also the chance to sit in on a Q&A session with the director and some of the cast members. Tickets can be book beforehand on the official website as well.
Other Attractions: The Filmmaker Lodge, the Music Café, the Digital Center, the Sundance House, Film Music Showcase and a Film Music Roundtable are some of the other important features of the Sundance Film Festival, besides the film screenings.
Some of the scheduled events which tourists should make a point to attend are:
Festival Opening Weekend: Features the opening of New Frontier, a multimedia film experience recently incorporated into Sundance Film Festival.
An Artist at the Table – This is a fundraising dinner which will be held on January 16, 2014. Enjoy performances by the Sundance Institute’s artists and get a chance to interact with popular filmmakers from all over the world.
Awards Night Party – Held at the Basin Recreation Center Fieldhouse, the awards party is a celebration of the works featured throughout the festival.
As far as accessing Park City, Utah is concerned, visitors should first fly in at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Park City is just 36 miles from here, which would be an approximately 45 minute drive. Buses and private cabs are easily available from the airport.
The Sundance Film Festival is hosted at the rugged mountain climate of Utah, where the average daytime temperature in January is in the range 12° and 33° degrees F. Snowfall is expected during January, sometimes covering the town in approximately 30 inches of snow. So visitors are advised to dress in layers and bring warm coats, gloves and hats. It is also recommended that one should drink plenty of water and be careful not to over-exert at such a high altitude.
If you’re a true cinema buff, you’re no doubt already beginning to plan your trip to upcoming Park City in January.
