CHICAGO — The Sundance Institute is making its way to Chicago this summer, bringing with it a new independent film festival.
Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 is set for June 28-30 and will feature film screenings, artists programs, panel discussions and other events across Chicago, city officials announced Tuesday.
This marks the Sundance Institute’s first film and art festival outside of its home in Park City, Utah, which hosts the prestigious annual Sundance Film Festival. Since its founding in 1981 by actor and filmmaker Robert Redford, the nonprofit institute has been a champion for independent filmmakers globally.
The festival will include the screening of four films shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a film program for new and underrepresented artists and panel discussions at the Chicago Cultural Center, among other events.
Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 will help support local creatives and connect them to the film industry, organizers said in a statement. It will also look to bolster the city’s status as a hub of film and television production. Chicago already has more than 50 film festivals each year, according to the city.
This film festival is a “momentous occasion” for Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. The event is a joint effort from the Sundance Film Festival organizers, the Chicago Film Office and Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism bureau.
“It not only celebrates our rich filmmaking heritage, but also provides an unparalleled platform for our local talent to engage with industry leaders and decision-makers,” Johnson said in a press release.
Sundance’s event will immediately follow Chicago’s Independent Film Exhibition Conference, which runs June 25-28 and draws more than 500 festival organizers, cinema operators, film distributors and other industry stakeholders.
Also in June, the city will host the Theatre Communications Group’s National Conference June 20-22 and Filmscape Chicago June 21-23. They feature filmmakers, production specialists, vendors and classes on media production.
Learn more about Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 and sign up for ticket sale updates here.
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