Weeks after the Sundance Film Festival announced that is was opening up exploratory conversations about leaving its longtime home of Park City, the Slamdance Film Festival has announced that its 2025 fest will not be taking place in the Utah resort town.
Next year’s Slamdance — the more indie cousin of Sundance — will take place in Los Angeles, from Feb. 20 to 26. “The festival aims to be financially accessible,” said today’s announcement, addressing an oft cited concern that the festival’s Park City location has too high of a price point for the indie filmmaking community.
The fest will take place in venues in and surrounding Hollywood, including the Landmark Theatres and the DGA Theater Complex, with in-person passes starting at $50.00 and many programs free to the public. Panasonic LUMIX will be the official sponsor of the 2025 fest; additional industry partners include the DGA, Landmark Theatres, and Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO.
“Our journey in the film industry began at Slamdance, and our commitment to the festival and the opportunities it offers filmmakers has remained unwavering,” said the Russos, who famously parlayed early work in indie filmmaking and comedic television into a directing career in the highest echelons of the studio system. “Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with numerous filmmakers through our fellowship program and various initiatives at our studio. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth and impact of Slamdance in its new home.”
Film festivals have had a difficult time taking root in Los Angeles despite being the center of the entertainment industry. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass endorsed the Slamdance move, saying, “To know the history and landscape of independent storytelling is to know that Los Angeles has always been a home and a source of inspiration for artists, as the creative capital of the world. As we welcome filmmakers, artists, and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, the Slamdance Film Festival will serve as a dynamic hub for creativity, connection, and job opportunities for Angelenos.”
Slamdance has been held in Park City since its founding in 1995. In recent years, but especially since the return to the city since the pandemic, both participants and attendees of Sundance and Slamdance have complained about affordability, from travel to the limited accommodations at the resort mountain town.
“Building upon our success in Utah, we will grow the festival with greater accessibility in Los Angeles and continue our work in launching new films, new careers, and new ideas in filmmaking”, said Slamdance President and founder Peter Baxter.
For its part, Sundance will be held in Park City through 2026. In April, the Sundance Institute announced it has launched a process to explore potential host cities for Sundance in 2027 and beyond. A final location is expected to be announced by year’s end or during the first quarter of 2025.
“We are in a unique moment for our festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to responsibly consider how we best continue sustainably serving our community while maintaining the essence of the festival experience,” offered Sundance fest director Eugene Hernandez at the time.
