Long viewed as the United States’ preeminent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival kicks off the year in new movie-going, thanks to its late January berth and wide array of sections to suit all manner of features, shorts, experimental offerings, and much more.

The festival was originally known as the Utah/US Film Festival when it was first founded in Salt Lake City, Utah in August 1978 by Sterling Van Wagenen, head of Robert Redford’s (long viewed as the face of the festival) company Wildwood Enterprises, Inc; John Earle; and Cirina Hampton-Catania of the Utah Film Commission. In 1981, the festival relocated to Park City, Utah, and moved its dates from September to January. In 1984, the Sundance Institute took over management of what was then known as the US Film Festival. In 1991, the festival was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival. The festival also hosts a pair of spin-off festivals in other locations, which currently include London and Hong Kong.

While Sundance has not always been considered an awards season bellwether, a number of its premieres have gone on to Oscar nominations and wins. In 2022, Sian Heder’s “CODA” became the first Sundance premiere to win Best Picture at the annual Academy Awards. It has also long served as the launchpad for a number of major filmmakers, including Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Todd Field, David O. Russell, Steve James, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Damien Chazelle, Lee Isaac Chung, Jane Schoenbrun, and Jim Jarmusch.

The festival’s awards are picked by both juries (including a starry assortment of various film and entertainment luminaries, creators, and performers) and by way of audience vote. Since 1984, the highest awards at the festival are billed as “Grand Jury Prizes,” which are typically bestowed upon both a dramatic and documentary feature. Juries are also allowed to award a number of special awards at their discretion.

In April 2023, the festival announced that it was in the process of fielding offers for new host cities (with current host city Park City also allowed to bid), with potential plans to relocate in 2027. Its upcoming 2025 edition will run January 23 – February 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. Led by festival director and head of public programming Eugene Hernandez in his second full year in the role, the festival will celebrate its 41st anniversary, and will include five competition sections.