Sundance Boulder 2027 expands film slots and maps out new venues

Sundance Boulder 2027 is starting to take shape, and the festival is telling filmmakers, agents and movie die-hards to expect more films, a tighter venue map and a very different January ritual in Colorado.

The Sundance Institute said the 2027 Sundance Film Festival will run Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 in Boulder, Colorado, marking the festival’s move from Park City, Utah. Festival director and head of public programming Eugene Hernandez said in a mid-year update that the new festival footprint puts venues within about a 2-mile radius.

Those venues include the University of Colorado Boulder’s Macky Auditorium, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder Theater and the Cinemark Century multiplex, according to Sundance. The inclusion of a modern multiplex is a notable shift for a festival long associated with improvised screening spaces, public buildings and mountain-town logistics.

What changes at Sundance in Boulder?

Sundance said its four main competition sections will each grow from 10 films to 12 films in 2027. The expanded categories are U.S. Dramatic, World Cinema Dramatic, U.S. Documentary and World Cinema Documentary.

Other festival sections will also get bigger, according to Sundance, including Premieres, NEXT, Midnight and Family Matinee. The festival said its Offscreen program, formerly called Beyond Film, will expand talks and events such as Cinema Café, The Big Conversation and Power of Story, with live podcast recordings also planned.

Variety reported that Sundance has been holding “industry orientations” in Boulder for major festival stakeholders, with agents, artists and public relations teams visiting the city to learn the new layout before January.

Key 2027 Sundance dates

• The festival runs Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 in Boulder.
• World premieres are scheduled from Jan. 21 to Jan. 26.
• The annual festival gala is set for Jan. 22.
• Online at-home screenings will run Jan. 28 to Jan. 31 for viewers outside Colorado.
• Press and industry access to the online program begins Jan. 27.
• Jury and audience awards will be announced Jan. 29.

Sundance said ticket details will arrive in September. Passes and ticket packages are scheduled to go on sale in October, with single-film tickets due in early January. The 2027 lineup is expected in December.

New Frontier returns with a new name

Sundance said New Frontier will return in 2027 as New Frontier FLUX after a two-year pause. The program focuses on work at the intersection of art, cinematic storytelling and emerging technology, and Sundance said the renamed section will emphasize experimentation and interdisciplinary practice.

The festival also announced two awards-related changes. The International Federation of Film Critics, known as FIPRESCI, will join Sundance for the first time and create its own jury to select winners for Best Debut Narrative in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition and Best Debut Documentary in the World Cinema Documentary Competition.

Sundance also said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made the festival an Oscars-qualifying event for World Cinema Grand Jury Prize winners in both Documentary and Dramatic. According to Sundance, those winners will automatically qualify for the upcoming Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.

Boulder logistics are part of the pitch

Sundance is also selling Boulder as easier to move through than some veterans may expect. The festival pointed to walking, scooters, e-bikes and local bus routes that reach its venues, with regional buses connecting Boulder to Denver and the airport.

The update also highlighted Boulder’s food and lodging options, saying there are more than 100 places to eat in the heart of Boulder and 400 in the city. Visit Boulder is expected to provide interactive guides for dining near theaters.

For attendees coming from abroad, Sundance said Denver International Airport has more than 30 direct international routes in January, including flights from London, Mexico City, Tokyo and Toronto. The festival also said it expects more than 2,000 volunteers, with applications opening Aug. 31, 2026.

This story draws on original reporting from Variety.