While most of Sundance Film Festival will take place in Park City, those who wish to avoid the crowds and save some gas can take part in the festival from here. From lounges, to art displays, and obviously the films themselves, there’s plenty of ways to take part in Sundance without leaving Salt Lake CIty.
One of the easiest ways to be involved in Sundance is to watch winning films from festivals of years past. The Sundance website provides a full list of the top movies from recent festivals, as well as links to watch them through various streaming services. This is a great option for those who want to be involved in the independent film scene while avoiding the chaos and crowds.
Those who prefer to see their films in an actual theatre and get the full movie experience, there are multiple screening venues in Salt Lake City: the Salt Lake Community College Grand Theatre, the Tower Theatre, Broadway Centre Cinemas, the Salt Lake Library, and the Rose Wagner Center.
Tickets for Sundance films can be expensive. For those interested in the “freebies” of the festival, there’s plenty of Sundance fun to be had for those on a budget. Venues like the East Liberty Tap House and Copper Common will have live music along with “other festival happenings” according to the Sundance website.
Another free festival event in Salt Lake is the Tolerance Poster Exhibition. The exhibition, which is hosted by Salt Lake County, brings together international artists to make posters and graphics centering around the theme of tolerance and acceptance. The exhibit runs from Jan. 21 to Feb. 8 in the lobby of the Rose Wagner Theatre.
Also at the Rose Wagner Theatre is BLOCKS Truck, an exhibit that gives its visitors a chance to learn about the process of screen printing. Those who visit the truck will be able to leave with a poster-sized copy of a piece being added to the Tolerance exhibition that was created by a local Utah artist. The Event happens Jan. 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. in the east parking lot of the Rose Wagner Theatre.
Throughout the festival, many booths are likely to pop up that might not be on Sundance’s website officially. A walk around the official film screening locations can lead to exciting discoveries. Some of the best discoveries may be found just off the path of the official guides.