Sundance Film Festival Brings Economic Boom to Utah

Sundance Institute today announced that the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, which took place in Park City, Utah, in January, generated an overall economic impact of $80 million for the State of Utah, according to the independent annual economic and demographic study conducted by the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the David Eccles School of Business (BEBR).

The Economic Report, posted in full on The Sundance Institute website , also found that the 2012 Festival: supported over 1,731 jobs; generated over $69 million in media exposure; provided nearly $6.9 million in tax revenue; and was attended by more than 46,000 people, a 2% increase over the prior year. More than 66 percent of festival attendees traveled from outside of Utah, more than 5,700 visitors were from international locations and more than 44 percent of tourist attendees indicated that they intend to visit Utah again during the next year. 2012 figures show gains in all categories.

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, "Nationwide it is proven that the arts boost tourism, create jobs, increase educational outreach and support local businesses, and we are proud to be a strong example of this. We will continue to raise awareness of the importance of corporate, government, foundation and individual funding for the arts because of the critical role the arts play in creating strong, resourceful communities."

"We are proud to be the official Sundance Film Festival host state and appreciate both the economic value it brings to Utah as well as the invaluable cultural and artistic benefit to residents and visitors alike," said Governor Gary R. Herbert. "Our collaboration with Sundance Institute is multidimensional, and we are grateful to continue working together to attract the attention of international business leaders, highlight Utah's commerce friendly dynamic and drive economic benefit to the State."

Since 2001, Sundance Institute, through its annual Sundance Film Festival, has generated in excess of one-half billion dollars in economic activity for Utah. The Festival is the state's largest annual international event, bolstering tourism and attracting worldwide media attention.

Jill Miller, Managing Director of Sundance Institute, said, "The 2012 Sundance Film Festival was a resounding success from a number of perspectives, and we are pleased to see the positive impact it continues to have each year on the State's economy. The event is a collaborative community effort involving local vendors, patrons and volunteers and it brings tremendous visibility to the State with press coverage from around the world. Utah and the Sundance Film Festival are synonymous with the best in American independent film and this year was no exception."

Notable events at the 2012 Festival included the annual Salt Lake Gala, attended by Governor Herbert, legislators and community leaders. In the Governor's welcoming remarks, he commented on the value of hosting the Festival in Utah, as evidenced by its cultural and economic impact on the state. Over 5,000 local high school students participated in the Institute's Festival High School Screenings Program, where filmmakers presented their work and engaged in discussions with students about an array of cultural, political and social issues. The Festival also welcomed Hill Air Force Base for a special screening at Ogden's Egyptian Theatre. The Utah Museum for Contemporary Art was again the official Salt Lake City venue for the Festival's New Frontier program, which was free and open to the public. And, upon the conclusion of the Festival, many Utah locals attended Best of Fest, free public screenings of the Festival's award-winning films.