Sundance 2026 Kicks Off with Press Welcome Event

As the Sundance Film Festival officially gets underway, the tone for this landmark year was set with intention, emotion, and celebration at the 2026 Sundance Institute Press Welcome Event. Held last night, the gathering brought members of the media together with Sundance Institute leadership for an evening that felt less like a formal kickoff and more like a collective exhale—a moment to reflect on where Sundance has been, why it matters, and where it is headed next.

From the moment guests entered the room, there was an undeniable buzz. Conversations flowed easily, fueled by anticipation for the days ahead, but there was also a palpable sense of reverence. This year’s Festival is deeply personal. It honors the enduring legacy of Robert Redford, whose vision not only created Sundance, but fundamentally reshaped the independent film landscape worldwide. It also celebrates more than four decades of shared history in Utah—years of discovery, risk-taking, and community that have defined what Sundance means to artists and audiences alike.

That balance of celebration and nostalgia came into sharp focus during a special video tribute that moved many in attendance. The montage captured the Festival’s evolution and spirit—moments of triumph, vulnerability, rebellion, and joy—reminding everyone in the room that Sundance has always been about more than premieres and prizes. It has been about people, stories, and the belief that independent voices matter.

Adding to the excitement was the continued momentum of this year’s awards season. Sundance Institute-supported artists and films are once again dominating the conversation, a testament to the organization’s long-standing impact. Today’s Academy Award nominations only reinforced that legacy, with all five Best Documentary nominees premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival—continuing a remarkable trend in which nine of the last ten documentary nominees debuted at Sundance. The Institute’s influence was also evident across directing categories, with three of the five Best Director nominees having come through Sundance’s signature labs, and four maintaining deep ties to the Institute or Festival. Narrative films that premiered last year, including Train Dreams, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and The Ugly Stepsister, are also earning multiple nominations across categories, underscoring Sundance’s role as an early launchpad for awards-season contenders.

The evening’s remarks reflected both gratitude and forward momentum. Amy Redford opened the program by grounding the night in this year’s theme, “Everyone Has a Story,” a phrase she shared came directly from her father. “There is loss, but there is also opportunity,” she said, encouraging the audience to remember not only what Robert Redford built, but why he built it—and to carry that purpose forward in every choice made from here on out.

Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair, expanded on that mission, reminding attendees that what the world sees during these 11 days is only a fraction of the Institute’s work. Sundance, he emphasized, is a year-round commitment to discovering, nurturing, and investing in independent artists. Those artists, once supported, go on to shape cinema and culture far beyond Park City.

Kim Yutani, Eugene Hernandez, Amy Redford, Michelle Satter, Ebs Burnough and John Nein attend the 2026 Sundance Film Festival Press Welcome Event. Credit: Jemal Countess

Festival Director and Head of Public Programming Eugene Hernandez echoed the theme, speaking directly to the power of storytelling and the shared experience ahead. Beginning today, he noted, audiences will not only see films, but learn the stories behind them—stories that connect, challenge, and move us. As a former journalist himself, Hernandez also took a moment to thank the press, acknowledging their essential role in amplifying independent film and helping Sundance become what it is today. His remarks included a heartfelt tribute to the late Tammie Rosen, Sundance Institute’s Chief Communications Officer, honoring her lasting impact on the organization and its voice.

Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director of Sundance Institute’s Artist Programs, highlighted the deep legacy of the Sundance Labs, citing filmmakers who developed early work through the program before going on to redefine cinema. Names like Lulu Wang, the Daniels, Darren Aronofsky, Miranda July, Quentin Tarantino, and Wes Anderson filled the room, alongside more recent alumni such as Chloé Zhao, Ryan Coogler, and Nia DaCosta. Each name served as a reminder of the ripple effect Sundance has created across generations of storytellers.

Programming highlights offered a glimpse of the creative range audiences can expect this year. Kim Yutani, Director of Programming, teased a lineup that spans powerful dramas, bold documentaries, and boundary-pushing comedies, while also spotlighting the presence of major cultural figures including Salman Rushdie, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Billie Jean King, Brittney Griner, Courtney Love, and Charli XCX, who appears in three films this year. She also announced a special musical moment: Norah Jones and Rufus Wainwright performing after a screening of Broken English on Sunday.

Looking back while honoring the present, John Nein, Senior Programmer and Director of Strategic Initiatives, shared details of the Festival’s Legacy program, featuring repertory screenings and restorations that reconnect Sundance to its roots. From a 20th anniversary screening of Little Miss Sunshine with much of the original team in attendance, to restored versions of Cronos, House Party, and Mysterious Skin, the program reinforces Sundance’s commitment to preservation as much as innovation.

As the Festival begins today, the Press Welcome Event served as a powerful reminder of what Sundance represents. It is a celebration of independent voices, a tribute to a visionary founder, and a living, evolving community. Sundance 2026 is not just another year—it is a moment of reflection, gratitude, and bold anticipation for the stories still waiting to be told.

The Sundance Film Festival runs January 22 through February 1, 2026, in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of films available online beginning January 29. Tickets and full programming details are available at festival.sundance.org/tickets.