Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that will push $34 million in tax credits for film festivals that decide to move to Colorado, just a few weeks after it was announced the Sundance Film Festival would be relocating to Boulder in 2027. 

The bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Sens. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, and Mark Baisley, R-Roxborough Park, was introduced as an incentive for Sundance as the festival considered relocating from Utah to either Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, or Boulder. Last month, the Sundance Institute officially selected Boulder to host the festival starting in 2027.

The festival will utilize downtown Boulder’s venues and theaters, as well as the University of Colorado campus. According to the governor’s office, the festival is expected to generate $2 billion for the state over the next 10 years.

Sundance said it plans to work with the city to “enhance infrastructure and accommodation options” to make the festival more affordable and sustainable.

“Colorado is the best state for film and television artists, and I am thrilled today to sign this bipartisan law to support our growing film industry in Colorado that is captivating audiences, supporting hard-working Coloradans, and strengthening our tourism and economy,” said Polis. “As the iconic Sundance Film Festival joins many successful film festivals operating across the state, we are ensuring that Colorado continues to be the top film festival state in the nation.”

“It’s an incredible honor to host the Sundance Film Festival because it will solidify our state’s reputation as a destination for the arts,” said Titone. “The 2024 festival attracted 24,000 out-of-state visitors and generated $132 million in gross domestic product, and we expect to see a similar positive economic impact in Colorado. We’re proud that the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival will call Boulder home for the next ten years.”

Ebs Burnough and Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute’s board chair and acting CEO, said they were “incredibly grateful” to the state of Colorado for supporting the festival.

“This investment highlights the invaluable role the state plays in cultivating creative industries that both enrich our culture and drive the economy,” they said. “We are also deeply honored as a nonprofit to be welcomed into Colorado’s thriving film festival and arts ecosystem. We look forward to the future, inviting our audiences and artists to join us in Boulder in 2027, and are excited to contribute to the vibrant arts community here in Colorado.”

The bill also provides tax credits of up to $5 million for existing or small Colorado film festivals.