CINCINNATI (September 12, 2024) – Cincinnati, under the leadership of Film Cincinnati, was named a finalist for consideration to be the new home of the Sundance Film Festival, the premiere showcase for independent films and filmmakers from around the world, beginning in 2027. The Sundance Institute announced today that Cincinnati would advance in the selection process along with Boulder, CO and Salt Lake City/Park City.

The annual film festival, founded by Robert Redford and headquartered in Park City, Utah, for more than 40 years, announced this spring it was exploring other locations to be the host of the event. Cincinnati’s bid is led by Kristen Schlotman, President/CEO of Film Cincinnati and includes a cross sector of leaders from the arts, corporate, civic and film community. The bid was initially submitted this spring where Cincinnati was invited to host a site visit by members of the selection committee in July.

"We are ecstatic to remain in consideration as the next host city for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Schlotman, who has served Film Cincinnati since 1997. “As long-time attendees, we believe Cincinnati offers a unique and opportune environment for the festival’s future. We are enthusiastic about the prospect of partnering with the Sundance Institute to honor the festival's esteemed legacy while creating a new and exciting environment that is walkable, equitable and accessible for all."

Cincinnati is poised to host the Sundance Film Festival led by its commitment to arts and culture. Over the last few years, more than $750 million has been invested in capital projects for cultural institutions, and ArtsWave’s 2024 community campaign raised $12.5 million making it the largest campaign for the arts in America.

“Cincinnati’s commitment to the arts and our renowned hospitality makes us the ideal destination for this prestigious event,” said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “Our world-class theaters, art galleries, and rich cinematic history offer both filmmakers and audiences an unforgettable experience, all within an atmosphere that seamlessly blends creativity, culture, and community.”

The 2023 Sundance Film Festival in Park City generated $118.3 million in the state's gross domestic product, according to the film festival’s economic study, including: $63 million in wages, $13 million in state and local tax revenue, and 1,608 jobs for locals. Almost 87,000 attended the 2023 event and more than 138,000 tickets were sold.

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About Film Cincinnati

Founded in 1987 and incorporated in 1991 as the one of the first non-profit film commission in America, Film Cincinnati is the not-for-profit organization that works to promote Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky as a destination for film, commercial, and television production.

In 2023, Film Cincinnati commissioned an updated Economic Impact Study with the UC Economics Center resulting in a total economic impact of $258 million dollars and 1,873 jobs between 2019 and 2022. Ohio awarded approximately $53.6 million in Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credits to 25 productions filmed in the Cincinnati Region during this period. Between 2019 and 2022, 25 productions, a mix of feature films and television shows, received tax credits from the State of Ohio and were filmed in the Cincinnati region. These productions were evaluated to determine the economic impact and leveraging ability for each fiscal year, respectively.

For the Cincinnati regional economy, every dollar that went to the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit program was recovered in tax credits awarded to Cincinnati-based productions plus an additional $1.17 on average. Direct new spending in the local economy resulting from productions is on average $6.54 for every dollar in state tax revenue generated in the Cincinnati MSA. In 2022, Cincinnati experienced the greatest leveraging of State awarded Motion Picture Tax Credits as Cincinnati contributed an estimated $6.2 million in State sales tax revenues for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit program, which in turn created $72.8 million in direct spending. This means that for every dollar awarded as an Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit resulted in $11.77 in direct new spending in the Cincinnati Region in 2022. Visit filmcincinnati.com to learn more.

Bio: Kristen Schlotman, President/CEO, Film Cincinnati

Kristen Schlotman is President/CEO of Film Cincinnati and began her tenure with the commission in 1997. Since taking on the role, Schlotman has positioned the Cincinnati region as a world-class destination for production and is credited with cultivating the burgeoning film ecosystem within the state and region. Schlotman’s efforts have created a billion-dollar industry for the state of Ohio and is responsible for getting Cincinnati on Moviemaker Magazine’s list of top places to live and work in the film industry for the past six consecutive years. Most recently, Cincinnati hosted the productions of “The Wise Guys” starring Robert DeNiro and “The Bikeriders” starring Tom Hardy and Austin Butler. When Schlotman is not assisting with productions or marketing Cincinnati to Hollywood, she can be found leading the charge in the expansion of both Ohio and Kentucky’s Motion Picture Tax Credits. Schlotman is recognized as the leader in broadening Cincinnati’s production portfolio and laying the foundation for a sustainable production industry in Ohio by implementing some of the best tax incentives worldwide. Schlotman is directly tied to the implementation of thousands of jobs for Ohioans, siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to the city, and generating a wave of local pride through the creation of film.

Contact: Jackie Reau, Game Day

(513) 708-5822 | jreau@gamedaypr.com