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DENVER, CO – The House today on a preliminary vote advanced legislation to attract film tourism to Colorado. HB25-1005 creates a tax credit to encourage the Sundance Film Festival to call Colorado home beginning in 2027 and support other small film festivals.
“Colorado would be the perfect place for the Sundance Film Festival to call home,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This iconic film festival would solidify Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts, boosting tourism and significant economic growth in the process. The legislation we advanced today encourages the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival to call Colorado home for the next ten years.”
“From original films to panel discussions with filmmakers, the Sundance Film Festival would be right at home in Boulder,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “If Boulder is selected as the next location for the Sundance Film Festival in 2027, our small businesses, restaurants and hotels will benefit from the boost in tourism. This bill helps strengthen Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts and will create new jobs in our state.”
Boulder was recently selected as a top-three finalist to host the iconic Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 – which would boost economic growth, tourism and Colorado’s reputation as a destination for the arts.
As outlined in the legislation, Colorado would stand up $34 million over the next ten years, or $3-5 million per year, in tax incentives to a film festival that sells more than 100,000 tickets and attracts more than 20,000 out-of-state attendees. A recent economic impact report of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Utah revealed the festival created 1,730 jobs for residents, generated $69.7 million in wages, $132 million in GDP and generated almost $14 million in state and local tax revenue.
Additionally, the bill will also leverage $500,000 annually to support small or existing local film festivals entities that are part of Colorado’s growing film festival ecosystem.
If Boulder is selected, the festival would take place starting in 2027 through 2036. Boulder is in the running to host the film festival starting in 2027 with Cincinnati, Ohio and Park City, Utah being other contestants.