PARK CITY, Utah, May 1, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The Slamdance Film Festival, based in Park City since its 1995 inception, has announced it will move to Los Angeles starting February 2025.
“The move to Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment industry, will allow for the continued growth of Slamdance’s year-round mission to provide an accessible and dynamic community for truly independent, visionary filmmakers and creators,” says a news release issued by the festival.
The Slamdance announcement came Tuesday, two weeks after the Sundance Film Festival announced it will be considering proposals for other sites for its festival, also based in Park City during late January.
Slamdance has long touted itself as a punk rock spirited alternative to the Sundance Film Festival, effectively making the case that it reflected the true spirit of independent filmmaking.
Slamdance heads west
Slamdance 2025 will run Feb. 20-26, 2025 “at venues in and surrounding Hollywood, including the Landmark Theatres and the DGA Theater Complex, with more locations to be announced,” the news release says.
“The festival aims to be financially accessible with in-person passes starting at $50 and many programs free to the public.”
“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 filmmakers and AGBO co-founders Anthony and Joe Russo.
“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.”
The mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has also endorsed the move, the news release quotes her as saying.
“We are thrilled to announce that the Slamdance Film Festival is moving to Los Angeles and will host its first event here beginning in February 2025. 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.”
The move will provide the Slamdance Festival and operation with growing room, president and founder Peter Baxter said.
“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. “With new and existing collaborators, our mission is to increase the global value of independent film and digital media and serve the Los Angeles arts community.”
Possible Sundance move
The Sundance Film Festival will remain in Park City at least through 2026, it’s organizers said, but it has begun accepting proposals from other U.S. cities for the years after that.
Park City Mayor Nann Worel has said she would like to see Sundance stay where it is.
“We appreciate our partnership with Sundance, and we want the Festival to remain here for another 40 years,” Worel said.
According to independent market research conducted by Y² Analytics, the Sundance Film Festival has brought $118 million to the state annually in recent years.
Financial impact numbers were not available for the smaller Slamdance Film Festival.
