Aug. 19: The nonprofit Sundance Institute and the University of Colorado Boulder announced an agreement that deepens their partnership as the two organizations prepare to welcome the Sundance Film Festival to its new home in Boulder Jan. 21-31, 2027. Building on the Festival partnership, the terms establish a broad slate of year-round academic, student, and community engagement commitments.
The agreement reflects a shared belief that the Festival is more than a public event: It is an opportunity for CU Boulder students to engage directly with independent storytelling and learn about the industry on their own campus. The Institute will plan cocurricular activities with the University, a tiered volunteer program, discounted and free screenings, and a sustainability research collaboration, as well as a new internship pilot program and civic and community engagement highlights, among other programs.
The partnership is expected to bring Sundance Institute representatives to campus for a number of academic and cocurricular events through June 2027, including classroom visits, first-year courses, capstone projects, research events, student organization programs, and campus symposiums.
“Great universities do more than simply prepare students for the future. They connect them to the people, ideas, and experiences that shape it. Our partnership with the Sundance Film Festival makes those connections possible,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “Bringing the Festival to CU Boulder will transform our campus into a place where learning, creativity, and cultural exchange happen side by side while strengthening Boulder’s role as a destination for bold ideas and artistic innovation.”
“CU Boulder and the Sundance Film Festival share values that embrace innovation, creative expression, and the universal power of storytelling,” said Eugene Hernandez, Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming. “We’re excited to engage with students, faculty, and staff on campus, during the Festival, and well beyond, as we integrate these shared values and new perspectives within the academic and cultural experience of the university.”
Students will receive discounted Festival tickets, free on-campus screenings, and student-only conversations with filmmakers and Festival participants. At least 100 CU Boulder students will have opportunities to volunteer during the Festival, while at least 30 students will serve on a Student Advisory Board that will help shape the campus Festival experience.
The partnership also aims to launch a pilot internship program for at least eight students and provide opportunities for qualifying student journalists to receive Festival press credentials.
Beyond the Festival, the collaboration will create new opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Sundance Institute will support students in CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment program as they develop a framework for measuring greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Festival, advancing sustainable event practices through applied research.