Sundance opens final Park City edition, honoring Robert Redford and independent film legacy
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 20, 2026, 02:34 IST
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival begins this week in Park City, marking its final year there and the first without founder Robert Redford. Before moving to Boulder, Colorado, next year, the festival will showcase 90 films, honor its legacy with restored classics, and celebrate independent cinema through tributes, premieres, and returning filmmakers who credit Sundance for launching their careers.
The Sundance Film Festival is set to start this week in Park City, Utah. The 2026 edition marks the final year the festival will be held in its longtime home and the first without founder Robert Redford, who died in September. After more than four decades in Park City, Sundance will move to Boulder, Colorado, next year.
The festival is attended by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Charli XCX, Chris Pine, and Olivia Wilde. Ninety films are set to premiere over 10 days, ranging from comedies and thrillers to documentaries and experimental projects. Main Street will once again be packed with pop-ups, sponsors, and long lines, even as temperatures stay well below freezing.
Legacy is a major theme this year. Sundance is screening restored classics such as “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Mysterious Skin,” and “House Party,” along with Redford’s 1969 film “Downhill Racer.” Tributes to Redford will continue throughout the festival, including at the institute’s major fundraising event honoring filmmakers like Chloé Zhao and Ed Harris. “Sundance has always been about showcasing and fostering independent movies in America,” filmmaker Gregg Araki said.
Many returning filmmakers credit Sundance for launching their careers. Jay Duplass, whose new film “See You When I See You” is premiering, said the festival changed his life and still feels special after more than 20 years. “It’s just a super special place,” he said, describing how famous actors and first-time filmmakers all share the same space.
As the final days on Main Street unfold, there is excitement mixed with nostalgia. While iconic venues like the Egyptian Theatre will soon be left behind, filmmakers believe the spirit of Sundance will carry on. The setting may change, but the festival’s role as a home for independent film is expected to remain the same.
The festival is attended by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Charli XCX, Chris Pine, and Olivia Wilde. Ninety films are set to premiere over 10 days, ranging from comedies and thrillers to documentaries and experimental projects. Main Street will once again be packed with pop-ups, sponsors, and long lines, even as temperatures stay well below freezing.
Legacy is a major theme this year. Sundance is screening restored classics such as “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Mysterious Skin,” and “House Party,” along with Redford’s 1969 film “Downhill Racer.” Tributes to Redford will continue throughout the festival, including at the institute’s major fundraising event honoring filmmakers like Chloé Zhao and Ed Harris. “Sundance has always been about showcasing and fostering independent movies in America,” filmmaker Gregg Araki said.
Many returning filmmakers credit Sundance for launching their careers. Jay Duplass, whose new film “See You When I See You” is premiering, said the festival changed his life and still feels special after more than 20 years. “It’s just a super special place,” he said, describing how famous actors and first-time filmmakers all share the same space.
As the final days on Main Street unfold, there is excitement mixed with nostalgia. While iconic venues like the Egyptian Theatre will soon be left behind, filmmakers believe the spirit of Sundance will carry on. The setting may change, but the festival’s role as a home for independent film is expected to remain the same.