Minneapolis offers $2 million a year to host the Sundance Film Festival

The city of Minneapolis is vying for the chance to host the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 and beyond, and has pledged $2 million in annual support to back it up.

“With our thriving arts and entertainment scene, diverse cultural heritage and passionate film community, Minneapolis is the ideal backdrop for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a news release. “There is no city that embraces the arts quite like we do — and Minneapolis already has a long history of supporting independent filmmakers and their art of storytelling. Sundance would be a welcome addition to our theater community, and we’re excited to throw our hat in the ring to host this world-renowned festival.”

In April, Sundance organizers announced they were looking for a new location for the festival, which has called Utah home since its founding in 1985. The festival has faced leadership and sponsorship problems as well as declining attendance in recent years. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously moved to bid for the festival and the city submitted its proposal on June 21.

The CEOs from Target, Best Buy and U.S. Bancorp have committed to provide $2 million each year to sustain and grow the festival. “Everybody wants to be a part of this,” said Film North executive director Andrew Peterson.

In its pitch, Minneapolis touted its “unparalleled private sector, philanthropic and governmental support for the festival, combined with robust existing infrastructure, a nation-leading arts and culture scene, and its welcoming and inclusive community.”

According to Deadline, Sundance will send a search committee to potential new home cities over the next few months. A decision is expected to be made public during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place in late January. San Francisco, Chicago, Boulder, Atlanta, Buffalo and Santa Fe have also expressed interest in hosting the festival.

Founded in 1978 by the head of Robert Redford’s production company, Sundance set out to showcase American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film and increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah.

Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Kevin Smith and Robert Rodriguez are among the many directors who earned vital early exposure through the festival.