Sundance Film Festival to expand in-person experience in 2024

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez reached out to the Sundance Community to give a progress report on next year’s Festival, which takes place January 18-28, 2024. Here are some of the takeaways.

Seeing as the Sundance Film Festival has always had an “artist first” approach, it’s not hard to imagine how an actors/writers strike might impact the Festival. Hernandez makes it clear that the Festival supports artists and will adjust its program as necessary.

Herndandez says, “This is also a challenging moment as artists fight for a more equitable entertainment industry. We’re more passionate than ever about the importance of celebrating and protecting fiercely independent voices; finding, nurturing and supporting a diverse roster of art and artists; as well as spotlighting work that can entertain us while it challenges and moves us.

As we plan for next year, it has been invigorating and inspiring to reflect on the history of this great Festival and dig in with colleagues to shape a sustainable vision for the future that builds and embraces audiences from all walks of life.

Hernandez is expecting a lineup that will include more than 90 feature films and 60 shorts. The Sundance Institute team is already watching films. The early submission deadline closes in the coming week and the final deadlines arrive at the end of September.

One of the major goals of the 2024 Festival, which so happens to be its 40th anniversary, is to enhance and expand the second half of the festival.

We’re prioritizing a festive and formative in-person Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City all the way through the closing weekend. With the addition of special programming and more opportunities to see all of the films in both cities during the second half of the festival, we hope you’ll join us for more days of Sundance 2024.

They will also be starting earlier than they did in the past. Opening day screenings will now begin at noon.

Venues for the 2024 festival will take place in Park City at the Eccles Theater, Egyptian Theatre, Holiday Village Cinemas, Library Center Theatre, The Ray Theatre, Redstone Cinemas, and Prospector Square Theatre, with private events at The Park. In Salt Lake City, films will screen downtown at the Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway, at the Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway Centre Cinemas, and at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

In late September the Festival will start to unveil tickets and passes, but they suggest visiting their lodging site to start preparing your housing plans.

In-person screenings are the priority, but the on-line aspect of that was introduced during the pandemic will also return for 2024.

Beginning on Thursday, January 25, we will also launch at-home screenings of the films in our five Competition sections (including NEXT). Films invited to our other sections can also opt-in to screen online during this limited sneak preview window.

I don’t know about you, I’m looking forward to what will be my 15th year covering the festival as a member of the press.