Utah Gov. Spencer Cox walked the press line for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of “Train Dreams” at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.
“It’s going to be an amazing festival, 41 years of Sundance here in Utah,” Cox said. “I think this is going to be the best one ever.”
The governor was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Abby Cox, at the event. Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez was also in attendance.
“We always try to be here for the kickoff of Sundance. It’s a huge deal for our state,” Cox said. “Over the past 15 years, economically, (the festival has) brought in about $1.3 billion in economic benefits to the state.”
He continued, “But that’s not why we love Sundance. We just love movies and we love storytelling.”
Cox said he remains “very” hopeful Sundance Film Festival will continue returning to Utah.
In April, Sundance Institute announced it had opened a Request for Proposal as part of a process to explore locations across the country to host the film festival.
The festival’s contract with Park City is up for renewal in 2027. That means Sundance Institute has time to consider new host cities for future festivals.
Utah is among three finalists selected by Sundance Film Institute to host the festival beginning in 2027, as previously reported by the Deseret News.
In addition to Park City, Sundance Film Institute is considering Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as future host cities.
“We understand that there are a couple other states that are interested and trying hard,” Cox said. “We have some natural advantages, and that it’s always been here. And again, we have so much support for Sundance right now, I think, more so than ever. And so we’re very, very hopeful.”
If Sundance Institute renews its contract with Utah, Cox said the festival will expand further into Salt Lake City.
“Our presentation is a two city approach,” he said. “So we can double the size of it. And we can do that with Salt Lake and Park City together.”
Cox said the Sundance Institute has not provided “a deadline yet or date for the announcement” about the festival’s host state beginning in 2027.
“We met with the executive board this week to give an additional presentation,” he said. “I know they’re getting close, but it will definitely be after the (2025 Sundance) session.”