by Rosa Parra
The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 22nd to February 1st in Park City, Utah. This event marks a historic moment, as attendees will bid farewell to not only Utah but also to Robert Redford, one of the festival’s founders who helped shape it into what it is today. Since its inception in 1978, the Sundance Film Festival has been held in Park City, but it will relocate to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.
This year’s festival will showcase 90 films over 10 days, featuring a variety of genres, including documentaries and feature-length fictional films ranging from dramas to comedies and horror. Attendees can also look forward to talks and events with notable figures such as Ava DuVernay, Olivia Wilde, and John Turturro. Additionally, films from the Park City Legacy Program, including classics like Cronos, Little Miss Sunshine, House Party, and Saw, will be screened. The festival will also feature 54 short films.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the annual fundraiser, “Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford,” taking place on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. This evening will honor Robert Redford’s legacy, vision, and ongoing mission to support independent storytellers. This year, the inaugural Robert Redford Luminary Award will be presented to Ed Harris and Gyula Gazdag, both of whom have shown a deep commitment to the Sundance Institute labs and have supported bold storytellers.
Experiencing Sundance in person for the last time in Utah will be bittersweet but filled with gratitude and memories. Here are some films I’m excited to see:
– American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (U.S. Documentary Competition): This film tells the story of Luis Valdez, who has pushed Chicano storytelling from the fields to the film screen with works like Zoot Suit and La Bamba. Narrated by Edward James Olmos, it challenges, celebrates, and expands America’s narrative.
– The Huntress (La Cazadora) (World Cinema Dramatic Competition): Set in the border city of Juárez, Mexico, where violence against women occurs with impunity, an unlikely defender emerges, seeking change. Inspired by true events, this film stars Adriana Paz, Teresa Sánchez, Jennifer Trejo, Eme Malafe, and Guillermo Alonso.
– The Gallerist (Premieres): In this film, a desperate gallerist schemes to sell a dead body at Art Basel Miami. It features stars such as Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Sterling K. Brown, Zach Galifianakis, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
– The Shitheads (Premieres): Two unqualified individuals are hired to transfer a wealthy teen to rehab, but their straightforward task quickly spirals into chaos. The film stars Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage.
– TheyDream (Next): After 20 years of documenting his Puerto Rican family, a director and his mother confront devastating losses. Through tears and laughter, they create animations that bring their loved ones back to life, discovering that every act of creation is also an act of letting go. Directed by William David Caballero.
– Wicker (Premiere): In this story, a fisherwoman asks a basketmaker to weave her a husband. The film stars Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, and Nabhaan Rizwan.
Stay tuned for coverage of the festival throughout its run and beyond. Here’s to another year and another Sundance to kick off the new year and showcase what the indie film industry has to offer!