{"id":24071,"date":"2025-01-10T11:44:36","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T18:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-lawmakers-offer-34-million-in-tax-incentives-to-land-sundance-film-festival\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:47:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:47:16","slug":"colorado-lawmakers-offer-34-million-in-tax-incentives-to-land-sundance-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-lawmakers-offer-34-million-in-tax-incentives-to-land-sundance-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado lawmakers offer $34 million in tax incentives to land Sundance Film Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"FILE
FILE \u2013 The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre appears during the Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 28, 2020, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Arthur Mola\/Invision\/AP, File)<\/span>(Photo by Arthur Mola\/Invision\/AP, File)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Colorado lawmakers want to sweeten the pot in the campaign to land the Sundance Film Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur sights are set on raising the curtain for Colorado as the new home of the world-famous Sundance Film Festival,\u201d Gov. Jared Polis said in his State of the State address<\/a> Thursday.<\/p>\n

Legislation introduced this week \u2014 House Bill 1005<\/a> \u2014 would offer $34 million in tax incentives to a film festival that sells more than 100,000 tickets and lures more than 10,000 out-of-state visitors. While the film festival incentive legislation does not specifically name the Sundance Film Festival, there are few film gatherings that would qualify.<\/p>\n

And only one major film festival is considering Colorado. The Utah-based Sundance Institute in September named Boulder as one of three finalists to host the vaunted Sundance Film Festival from 2027 through 2036. Cincinnati and the festival\u2019s 39-year host Park City \u2014 partnered with Salt Lake City down the road \u2014 are also vying to host the world\u2019s second-largest film festival.<\/p>\n

The legislation offered this week by Reps. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Sens. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, creates tax incentives for organizers of a \u201cglobal film festival entity,\u201d based on festival expenditures and annual visitor counts.<\/p>\n

The legislation allocates $4 million and $5 million a year in incentives through 2030 and then $3 million a year through 2036, with a maximum of $34 million. Smaller film festivals that relocate to Colorado can get up to $5 million through 2036.<\/p>\n

In June the Colorado Economic Development Commission awarded a coalition of Boulder economic development champions a $1.5 million grant<\/a> to help land the Sundance Film Festival.<\/p>\n

Last year the 11-day Sundance Film Festival sold 141,212 tickets to 639 screenings<\/a>. Another 220,000 people watched 405 online movie screenings. The festival drew 72,840 in-person visitors, with about a third of those coming from out-of-state. Those nonresident visitors spent an average of $4,411 each, totaling $106.4 million in spending during the festival, feeding a total economic impact of $132 million for the state. The festival generated 1,730 jobs for Utah residents who earned $69.7 million. The festival generated $13.8 million in state and local taxes, according to the Sundance Institute\u2019s economic assessment of the 2024 festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Colorado House Speaker McCluskie has a daughter who earned a master\u2019s degree in film and she said having a filmmaker in her family is a constant reminder of \u201cthe power of film in our communities and in our broader society in helping to tell stories and build understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Democratic
Democratic Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie as Colorado lawmakers returned to the Capitol, January 8, 2025, for opening day at the General Assembly. (Hart Van Denburg\/Colorado Public Radio)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

McCluskie estimates the festival could bring in $3.65 million to $6.65 million in state tax revenue a year, with a total tax harvest of $54.9 million. After incentives have been paid she estimates the state could net $15.9 million in state tax revenue through 2036.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a short-term investment that will have powerful long-term benefits,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Colorado is not alone in stirring up financial enticements for Sundance.<\/p>\n

The state of Utah delivers $1.8 million a year<\/a> to the Sundance Institute to support the annual festival.<\/p>\n

In November, Cincinnati lawmakers offered $2.5 million to help lure the Sundance Film Festival to Ohio and another $2.5 million if the festival relocates to Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

The governor of Ohio in July announced he was awarding $36.7 million in state tax credits<\/a> to 17 media productions in the state as part of the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit program that has awarded up to $50 million a year to productions since 2009.<\/p>\n

Colorado\u2019s film incentive program is one of the least robust in the country. Polis in June signed legislation<\/a> that expands the state\u2019s support for film, television and commercial productions in the state with $5 million a year in tax refundable tax credits.<\/p>\n

\"Red
Red Banjo Pizza Parlour, where Malia Obama ate along Main Street is seen during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24, 2017, in Park City, Utah. (Danny Moloshok\/Invision\/AP)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s any better way to help promote Colorado\u2019s vibe with filmmakers than having them here for festivals,\u201d McCluskie said.<\/p>\n

The growing Sundance Film Festival is considering a move from its longtime home in Park City after grumbling from local businesses<\/a> in the ski town about festival crowds squeezing out skiers. And festivalgoers have groused about the cost of attending a festival in a ski town at the height of ski season.<\/p>\n

Last year the Sundance Institute hosted roughly 120 participants at its Directors Lab at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park<\/a>, which has joined the Boulder coalition to lure the festival.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. To learn more, go to coloradosun.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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