PARK CITY, UTAH—After two years of an entirely virtual format, the 2023 Sundance Film Festival returned to Park City, Utah, with in-person experiences (although digital programming was also on offer), bringing with it the face-to-face conversations and events that the independent film industry thrives off of.
For the 39th annual festival, which ran from Jan. 19-29, proceeds from ticket sales went to the development of emerging artists through the Sundance Institute. And New York Film Festival’s Eugene Hernandez served as festival director, replacing Tabitha Jackson, who stepped down after two years.
A livestreamed conversation and Q&A—dubbed Sundance Scoop—with Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente, director of programming Kim Yutani, and senior programmer and strategic initiatives director John Nein, kicked off the fest. During the online broadcast, Vicente said that this year, organizers prioritized the in-person experience, which was augmented by digital offerings. The online program featured more than 130 films that were accessible via the festival’s digital platform.
While Vicente would not disclose whether the festival will commit to a hybrid format for future fests, he did note that the Institute is aiming to attract a younger, more diverse audience, so continuing to incorporate virtual offerings would seem like a smart strategic move.
This year, brands—including mainstays such as Acura, Adobe, and Canon as well as newcomers like Stanley and Stacy’s Pita Chips—embraced the in-person event with open arms, hosting experiential activations during the fest’s 10-day run.
Keep scrolling to see inside the parties, activations, community gatherings, and more from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival...