Podcast Summary: The Town with Matthew Belloni

Episode: The Last Sundance (in Park City) and Why Boulder?

Date: January 21, 2026
Guests: Eugene Hernandez (Sundance Festival Director)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the end of Sundance Film Festival’s Park City era, the upcoming move to Boulder, Colorado, and the legacy of founder Robert Redford. Host Matthew Belloni speaks with Eugene Hernandez, Sundance’s Festival Director, about the emotional final Utah festival, memories and legendary moments from past Sundances, the festival's future, and shifting industry dynamics surrounding indie film distribution and buyers. The discussion is peppered with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, candid insights, and a forward look at the evolving landscape of independent film festivals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Final Sundance in Park City: Mood, Nostalgia, & Attendance

• Nostalgic Surge and Increased Interest

  • Belloni and Hernandez remark on the heightened sense of occasion, with many attendees wanting to experience Park City’s unique festival culture one last time before the move.
  • Quote:

    "There's excitement to be part of something that will be once in a lifetime..."
    — Eugene Hernandez [04:10]

• Festival Timing & Its Quirky Tradition

  • Belloni credits the January date for shaping the cultural rhythm of the industry:

    "It was so genius to put it in January because it really does kick off the year, culturally speaking... it's kind of a cruel joke that Robert Redford decided to play on all the fake Hollywood people."
    — Matthew Belloni [04:50]

2. The Move to Boulder: Rationale, Anticipation, and Uncertainty

• Building, Not Just Moving

  • Hernandez underscores that Boulder won’t be a replica of Park City; it’s about crafting a new identity grounded in Sundance’s original mission.
  • Quote:

    "We aren't really moving the festival from Utah to Colorado. We're building a festival in Colorado."
    — Eugene Hernandez [06:28]

• Community Integrations and Unique Challenges

  • Logistics and integration with the new host community are likened to a Wiseman documentary—detailed, bureaucratic, but crucial for festival success.

• Why Boulder?

  • Ultimately chosen for its student presence, inviting tech and music culture, and enthusiastic welcome from the community—Salt Lake City and even Cincinnati (!) were contenders.

    "Boulder just made the most sense. But we could have gone in any of those three directions..."
    — Eugene Hernandez [24:19]

3. Park City Memories: Wild Moments and Industry Turning Points

• Anecdote: The ‘Star Maps’ Scoop (1997)

  • Hernandez recounts breaking the Searchlight acquisition scoop thanks to a volunteer loudly sharing the news at a business center, highlighting the shift from print to internet media:

    "[A Searchlight marketing exec] hears the same thing that I just heard about her film getting sold... she's sitting next to me writing the press release."
    — Eugene Hernandez [10:31]

• Anecdote: Festival Party Mayhem

  • Belloni recalls almost getting into a physical altercation with a WME agent after covering a busted party, and the infamous CAA party featuring a risqué burlesque act [14:43–16:07].
  • Quote:

    "He found me at a party the next night and tried to fight me. Fight like, like old style. Put up your dukes. Fight in a bar."
    — Matthew Belloni [14:43]

4. Sundance’s Shaping of Filmmaking Careers

• Discovery Moments: Fruitvale Station and 500 Days of Summer

  • Hernandez describes his early championing of Ryan Coogler, highlighting how Sundance can transform careers overnight:

    "Someone can arrive at the festival, one person, and leave an entirely different person."
    — Eugene Hernandez [17:49]

  • Belloni recalls sharing the immediate aftermath of rave reviews with Marc Webb, director of “500 Days of Summer.” [17:49–18:27]

• Sundance Labs’ Influence

  • The conversation celebrates Sundance as a pipeline for new talent, citing alumni like Chloé Zhao, Ryan Coogler, and Paul Thomas Anderson finding early support through the institute.

5. Commemorating Redford & The Last Park City Events

• Special Tributes and Legacy Screenings

  • The 2026 festival will be marked by celebrations of Robert Redford, a gala honoring Chloé Zhao, and a unique storytelling event on the final Friday themed around "Everyone has a story."
  • Legacy screenings planned include “Little Miss Sunshine” and “House Party” (with the latter’s restoration a particular point of trivia surprise for Belloni). [21:49–23:37]

• Potential "Torch Passing"

  • Playful speculation about ceremonial farewells, with mentions of snowball fights and official events [24:00].

6. The Changing Indie Film Marketplace

• The Evolution of Film Sales at Sundance

  • Fast, wild multi-million-dollar acquisitions are rare now; deals are slower and more deliberate.

    "That world in which those films would sell that quickly and be acquired for millions of dollars... There's actually very few of those stories..."
    — Eugene Hernandez [12:14]

  • Sundance now measures success not by sales, but by the long-term opportunities enabled for filmmakers.

• The Rise of Warner Bros.' New Indie Arm

  • Warner Bros., after years without an indie division, is re-entering the market and expected to make a splashy buy at the festival.
  • Quote:

    "My prediction is that Warner Brothers will have the biggest or one of the biggest sales at Sundance. They'll find the most commercial movie and they'll pay 5, $10 million for it."
    — Matthew Belloni [29:19]

• Streaming vs. Theatrical Debates

  • Netflix remains the default bidder for high-profile acquisitions, but many filmmakers still crave theatrical releases, which legacy studios can provide [30:51–31:29].

7. Looking Ahead: Boulder’s Potential and Recommendations

• What’s Most Exciting About Boulder
  • Hernandez is excited for Boulder’s student enthusiasm, the tech/music scene, and the fresh local energy the festival will tap into.
• Film Recommendation
  • Hernandez encourages Belloni to see Olivia Wilde’s comedic relationship drama “The Invite,” co-written by Rashida Jones:

    "Matt, it's hilarious. It's so well written. Rashida Jones co-wrote it."
    — Eugene Hernandez [27:29]

8. Fun Moments and Celebrity Sightings

• Random Celebrity Run-ins
  • Belloni’s wildest: Paris Hilton with “bags of swag” [21:03]
  • Hernandez recalls running into luminaries like Bill Gates and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at documentary screenings [21:27]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps (MM:SS)

• "[There's] excitement to be part of something that will be once in a lifetime..." — Eugene Hernandez [04:10]
• "We aren't really moving the festival from Utah to Colorado. We're building a festival in Colorado." — Eugene Hernandez [06:28]
• "He found me at a party the next night and tried to fight me. Fight like, like old style. Put up your dukes. Fight in a bar." — Matthew Belloni [14:43]
• "Someone can arrive at the festival, one person, and leave an entirely different person." — Eugene Hernandez [17:49]
• "Boulder just made the most sense." — Eugene Hernandez [24:19]
• "Matt, it's hilarious. It's so well written. Rashida Jones co-wrote it." — Eugene Hernandez [27:29]
• "My prediction is that Warner Brothers will have the biggest or one of the biggest sales at Sundance... they'll pay 5, $10 million for it." — Matthew Belloni [29:19]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Park City Nostalgia & Attendance Bump: [03:35–04:50]
• Discussion of the Move/Boulder’s Appeal: [06:28, 25:56]
• Wildest Sundance Stories: [08:37–16:07]
• Impactful Sundance Movie Debuts: [16:25–18:27]
• Redford Tributes & Legacy Programming: [21:49–23:37]
• The Indie Marketplace (Warner Bros. & Netflix): [29:19–31:29]
• Boulder Anticipation & Closing Thoughts: [25:56–26:41, 27:41]

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, anecdotal, and insider-focused—blending industry analysis with personal tales and festival lore. The tone remains warm and passionate throughout, with the guests and host reflecting on both the challenges and joys of running and attending Sundance.

For anyone who hasn't listened, this episode offers a richly woven farewell to Sundance's Park City era, insight into the future in Boulder, and a window into the shifting sands of the indie film industry.