The Sundance Film Festival has always stood for independence, innovation, and bold storytelling. As Sundance prepares to move from Park City after 2026, we respectfully urge the Sundance Institute to reconsider Seattle, Washington—and its surrounding creative communities—as the Festival’s next home.

Seattle offers a rare convergence of everything Sundance represents—and everything it needs to thrive for decades to come.

🎬 A World-Class Film & Arts Ecosystem
Seattle is one of America’s most culturally engaged cities, with a long history of supporting independent cinema, experimental art, and diverse voices. The region is home to:

SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival), one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the U.S.
A robust network of independent theaters, historic venues, and arts institutions
A deeply engaged audience that consistently shows up for meaningful, challenging storytelling
Sundance would not need to build a film culture here—it would be welcomed into one that already exists.

🌲 A Multi-Community Festival Experience
Unlike a single downtown footprint, the Seattle region allows Sundance to expand creatively across:

Seattle – urban energy, global media presence, and iconic venues
Bellevue – modern infrastructure, international access, and corporate support
Bainbridge Island & Vashon Island – intimate, artist-centered environments that echo the community spirit Sundance was founded on
These connected yet distinct locations would allow Sundance to scale thoughtfully while preserving its soul.

🌍 Accessibility, Equity & Global Reach
Seattle is one of the most accessible cities in the country:

A major international airport (SEA-TAC) with global connectivity
Strong public transit and ferry systems
A city deeply committed to inclusion, equity, and environmental sustainability
Moving Sundance to Seattle would expand access for filmmakers and audiences who have historically been underrepresented or priced out.

💡 Innovation Meets Storytelling
Seattle sits at the intersection of art, technology, and social impact. As home to global leaders in technology, sustainability, and media, the city offers Sundance the opportunity to evolve—embracing new formats, distribution models, and future-forward storytelling—without compromising its independent roots.

❤️ A Natural Cultural Fit
From its progressive values to its reverence for creativity, Seattle aligns deeply with Sundance’s mission. Like Sundance, Seattle champions:

Independent voices
Socially relevant stories
Community-driven experiences
This isn’t just a logistical match—it’s a philosophical one.

 
🎥 Our Request
We respectfully ask the Sundance Institute to:

Open dialogue with the City of Seattle and surrounding communities
Conduct a formal evaluation of Seattle as a future Festival location
Consider a multi-city, Pacific Northwest-based Sundance experience
Sundance has always been about discovery. We believe Seattle is the next great chapter in that story.

Lights. Camera. Evergreen.
Let’s bring Sundance to Washington State.