As the Sundance Film Festival gets ready to move to Boulder in 2027, its leadership is looking to partner with the University of Colorado Boulder to bolster the festival’s success.

The Sundance Film Festival, one of the most iconic independent film festivals in the world, announced in March that it would make Boulder its new home in 2027 after multiple cities competed for the honor.

Leaders at CU Boulder, Boulder, Boulder County and the Sundance Film Festival delivered remarks regarding the film festival during a CU Night event on Wednesday at the Boulder Theater. CU Night is an annual event where the university and Boulder showcase partnership and share updates with citizens.

“We’re all very excited to be here (in Boulder),” Sundance Film Festival programmer Sudeep Sharma said during CU Night, adding: “We’re looking forward to what’s going to be happening in the next few years in Boulder.”Sharma said the university was a major factor in the decision to move Sundance to Boulder, adding that the university was the first stop the Sundance team made in Boulder when it was visiting sites in 2024. He said the Sundance team holds many shared values with the university, including around independent thought and artistic expression.

CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz said he’s “overjoyed to celebrate” the arrival of the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder.

“Music, art, film, storytelling, creativity, innovation — these are core values in Boulder and they are the connective tissues that unite and uplift us as people,” Schwartz said.

Sharma said the festival hopes to see a young and diverse audience come to the festival from CU Boulder and to collaborate with faculty, staff, and the film departments at the university on festival talks and programming.

Sharma also said there will be many volunteer opportunities for anyone interested and encouraged people to consider it. There will also be an event this summer, and he told the audience to watch for more information.

“We are looking not just to drop in for 10 days for the festival but to be part of the community as our relationship grows,” Sharma said.

Sharma said Boulder is “a place we feel the festival and city can grow together,” and that it’s for the public to come.

“It’s really open for everyone — it isn’t just an exclusive party of fancy people,” Sharma said, adding: “It’s meant for people to come see films, meet filmmakers and see exhibitions.”

Schwartz said the festival will add a new dimension to a campus where the arts are already thriving — and to the existing film festivals, museums and art galleries throughout Boulder.

“We are truly eager to support this flourishing partnership as the festival prepares to move to Boulder in 2027,” Schwartz said.

Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy highlighted the county’s vibrant and strong art community. She referenced the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, or SCFD, which is the only cultural funding model in the nation that serves a region of seven counties, including Boulder County, according to its website. The program encourages the arts and a diversity of cultural programming.

“Together I think the three entities (Boulder, CU Boulder and the county), plus the other towns we have in the county, really make it one of the most special places to live in the country with our open space, our trails and the arts community,” Levy said.

Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett said the strength of the relationship between CU and the city is what made it possible to recruit Sundance to Boulder.

“The partnership between CU and the city could not be stronger,” he said.

Schwartz also shared several updates on the university. He cited how enrollment is set to increase modestly, largely due to student retention, and said the university is looking to continue to expand campus housing with new residence hall space and through properties at the former Regal Cinebarre theater in Louisville and at CU South.

Schwartz said he’s continuing to build his leadership team with new hires and that the university continues to monitor changes and potential changes happening at the federal level.

He emphasized CU Boulder’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability, the quantum industry and its relationship with the city.

“CU Boulder cannot thrive without the city of Boulder, and Boulder cannot thrive without CU,” Schwartz said. “I hope in all we do we can let that fundamental principle guide our partnership.”

For more information on the Sundance Film Festival and ways to get involved, visit sundance.org/boulder and bouldercountyfilmcommission.com/sundance.