The contours of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival are taking shape — with a few more in-person screenings and fewer days with online screenings, the festival’s new director announced.
The Sundance Institute released an open letter Tuesday, and new director Eugene Hernandez outlined what will happen when the festival returns to Park City and Salt Lake City, Jan. 18-28, 2024. It’s the 40th festival since Robert Redford’s arts nonprofit took over operations of the former Utah/U.S. Film Festival back in 1985.
The festival will feature in-person screenings in its Utah venues all 11 days, Hernandez said. The screenings will start a little earlier on the opening day, Thursday, Jan. 18 — beginning around noon, rather than the evening opening-night events of past years. Hernandez recommended out-of-state visitors travel on Wednesday, Jan. 17, “so you don’t miss any of our opening day.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eugene Hernandez, who takes over as director of the Sundance Film Festival with the 2024 edition, moderates a discussion on the opening day of the Sundance Film Festival, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.
The festival will include 90-plus feature films and more than 60 short films, the same as 2023, Hernandez said. Those films will premiere in person between Thursday, Jan. 18, and Tuesday, Jan. 23.
The venues in Park City and Salt Lake City for 2024 will be the same as 2023.
• In Park City: Eccles Theatre, Egyptian Theatre, Holiday Village Cinemas, Library Center Theatre, Prospector Square Theatre, The Ray Theatre and Redstone Cinemas — with private events at The Park (formerly The Yarrow).
• In Salt Lake City: Broadway Centre Cinemas, Megaplex Cinemas at The Gateway, and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
Hernandez wrote that the 2024 festival will be a hybrid, like in 2023 — with online screenings as well as in-person shows. The online screenings will run Thursday, Jan. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 28. That’s two fewer days of online screenings than in 2023.
Films in the festival’s competition sections, including the Next section, will be screened online, Hernandez said. Films invited to other sections can opt in to the online slate during the four-day window. (The window will be five days for press and industry, with online screenings starting on Wednesday, Jan. 24.)
The awards presentation, like in 2023, will happen on the festival’s second Friday, Jan. 26, at The Ray. “We loved the intimacy that came with holding this artist celebration at The Ray Theatre,” Hernandez wrote, “and we’re thrilled to be back again this year.”
Filmmakers can still submit their works to the 2024 festival, Hernandez noted. Early deadlines come in August, and late deadlines don’t hit until September. Programming director Kim Yutani and her team are already looking over entries, Hernandez said.
Ticket and pass information will be announced in late September, Hernandez said.
One question Hernandez’ letter does not answer: What will happen at Sundance if the strikes by Hollywood’s actors and writers stretch into January? Both SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have rules barring members from promoting their work while on strike — and that includes attending film festivals, which rely on celebrity to attract global attention to films.
In his letter, Hernandez addressed the strikes by noting it is “a challenging moment as artists fight for a more equitable entertainment industry.” He said Sundance is “more passionate than ever about the importance of celebrating and protecting fiercely independent voices; finding, nurturing and supporting a diverse roster of art and artists; as well as spotlighting work that can entertain us while it challenges and moves us.”
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