My Insider Guide to Making the Most of the Sundance Film Festival
I’ve had the pleasure of attending Sundance many times as press, festival staff, and as a producer/general industry mentor, so folks are always asking me for tips. I’ve finally put them in one place…just in time for Sundance to move away from Park City in a couple of years-ha!
In the meantime, here’s a practical guide to help you make the most of your trip while it’s still in Utah. These tips are based on personal experience, input from experienced attendees (Shout out to Sean Glass’s WhatsApp group!), articles (like this one and this one, both by smarties who wrote for me at No Film School), and local insights. This is a work-in-progress and there’s so much more to say - feel free to offer additions.
BTW, I’ll be there this year from 1/23-1/28 repping the NYU Production Lab so say hi if you’re going!
General Logistics and Planning
What to Pack or get on the ground:
Clothing:
CASUAL and WARM - Daytime: Jeans, flannels, sweatshirts, sweaters, fleece, turtlenecks, leggings
Note that it can be FREEZING outside and hot as hell inside parties etc so a bottom layer that you can actually wear (ie not just undies) is useful.
Outerwear: Heavy, waterproof snow coat (e.g., Patagonia), hats, gloves, scarves and hand/feet warmers, sunglasses
Footwear: Snow boots (or at least waterproof boots with heavy socks) with good traction for icy streets, extra socks
Extras: Bathing suit for hot tubs, workout clothes, ski gear (if planning to ski/snowboard)
Health Essentials:
Tylenol, altitude aids (e.g., AltitudeRX)
Vitamins and hydration aids
High-SPF moisturizer, thick hand cream, and lip balm
Face masks to avoid illnesses and hand sanitizer
Throat Coat tea or cough drops. You will lose your voice.
Snacks & Gear:
Protein bars, snacks for long days, refillable water bottle, coffee thermos.
Backpack or large crossbody bag for extra layers and supplies.
External phone battery pack/charger. The days are long, the outlets are limited, and phone batteries don't last as well in the cold.
Transportation:
Do everything you can to avoid driving and parking your own car or rental. There is no parking and getting around is a nightmare.
Park City’s free bus system and the Sundance shuttles are efficient and go to all venues. Volunteers at stops can guide you. Here’s the shuttle map and here’s the Transit app for the local bus service.
If using taxis/Ubers, confirm fares in advance—they can be expensive, especially after screenings.
For airport transfers from Salt Lake City to Park City, rideshare fares can be up to $150 one way. Sharing rides or booking a car service ahead can save costs.
Traffic and weather are often unpredictable; leave extra time to ensure you don’t miss events.
Accommodations:
Your best bet is probably sharing a well-located condo with multiple friends and colleagues. These come in all different kinds of configurations. Hotel rooms are prohibitively expensive, and condos are a plus because they offer a place to prep and store food, especially if you are staying for several days.
Book accommodations early, but note that last-minute options often open during the latter half of the festival.
Proximity to Main Street:
Many folks recommend staying within a 5-10 minute walk of Main Street to ensure convenience to a lot of the lounges and ancillary events, but note that only one of the actual film screening venues is on Main St.
Being slightly farther away can offer a quieter, less hectic environment. I think as long as you are on a shuttle route you’re in great shape.
My personal favorite area to stay is along Park Ave near the Fresh Market because it’s more centrally located.
Food Options:
This festival is not designed for nourishment. It can be quite hard and expensive to come by food. Some options:
Plan to cook/meal prep if your lodging has a kitchen.
Groceries:
Smith’s and Fresh Market for affordable staples.
Good Earth Markets for natural foods and vegan options.
Snacks: Always keep portable snacks for long days.
Reservations: Restaurant bookings fill up months in advance, so plan early.
If you do want to eat out, get away from Main St. Locals have told me that restaurants in the high-traffic areas raise their prices by 4x or more during the festival. There are some other good options in town when you move a little further afield.
I recommend grabbing free food at events whenever you can.
Health and Wellness:
Hydration and Altitude:
The altitude thing is real. It messes me up every year. Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest to acclimate. Can also add a hydration booster like Liquid I.V, to your water.
Avoid or pace yourself with drinking alcohol, especially during your first day.
Preventing Illness:
Wash hands frequently.
Consider flu and COVID vaccinations before traveling.
Carry masks for use in crowded theaters.
Take your vitamins or whatever you use to ward off colds (I usually take Airborne on the plane, drink Emergen-C each morning, etc.)
Weather and Safety Tips:
Snow and black ice can make walking hazardous; tread carefully. Some of the events are up VERY long, icy staircases.
Dress in layers and bring items to stay warm for long outdoor waits. Consider carrying extra socks for the parties where you have to remove your shoes and then your feet get wet.
It can also be very sunny and bright with sun bouncing off the snow. Sunglasses and SPF are recommended.
Making the Most of the Festival
Attending Screenings:
Look up theater locations before buying tickets. Some venues, like Redstone, are far from central Park City and accessible only by specific bus lines.
Be aware of theaters in Salt Lake City (e.g., Broadway Centre Cinema, Grand Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, Salt Lake City Library Theatre, Tower Theatre) and Sundance Mountain Resort, as they require long commutes.
Utilize the Festival Box Office on Main Street:
Trade tickets you can’t use for same-day tickets or vouchers.
Check daily for available tickets from others’ discards.
Join the virtual waitlist through the Sundance App. Arrive at the waitlist line 30 minutes before a screening.
Use the Rush Line if you lack a ticket. Arrive early for a better chance of getting in, especially during the festival’s second week. Note: Ticket reselling is illegal, but extra tickets may be handed off in Rush Lines.
Attending Panels and Events:
Beyond Film Panels: Official Sundance talks cover a wide range of topics, from filmmaking and storytelling to industry trends. Check the festival program for schedules. You typically don’t need a badge to attend these (but you’ll want to get in line early).
Brand and Partner Lounges: Many brands or orgs set up lounges near Main Street, such as The Impact Lounge, Canon Lounge, (or the Tisch Lounge for my NYU peeps!), offering networking opportunities, panels, and often free food, drinks, and swag. Note that most of these are only open for the first weekend of the festival.
Private Parties: Keep an ear out for invites to private events. RSVP as soon as you get invited to anything or receive an RSVP link – they reach capacity quickly.
Tips for Maximizing Events:
Arrive early to secure a good seat at panels.
Dress casually but professionally for networking opportunities. Talk to people!
Bring a notepad or use your phone to jot down useful contacts or ideas.
Networking:
Don’t keep your face in your phone: There are networking opportunities everywhere. Free shuttles, film and party lines, your seats before/after panels are all great for meeting people and connecting with other attendees.
Be prepared with your elevator pitch or project information. Always carry business cards or have a digital way to share your contact info.
There are some central places where people hang out, like the Filmmaker Lodge, the lobbies of official festival hotels, the bar at Butcher's, and more. Ask around.
Be nice to festival staff (and volunteers!) when you run into them. They been underpaid and overworked for months to bring you a wonderful experience, and they are almost never appreciated enough. It's just the right thing to do, but an added bonus is that they are likely well-connected in the industry and you never know where a conversation with them can lead.
It’s ok if you don’t have a film in the fest – chances are you have interests or people in common with most people you’ll meet: You are surrounded by film lovers and this is a very small industry!
Flexibility is Key:
Be open to seeing films you know nothing about or don’t have a lot of buzz. Discovering the hidden gems is one of the absolute pleasures of Sundance!
Weather can be unpredictable and you may not get into events even if you were on the list, but other things always come along! There is just a ton going on. Allow time for changes and spontaneous opportunities. Embrace the adventure!
Balance your day between screenings, events, and rest to preserve your stamina.
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