Sundance Director Details Boulder Move, AI Film Policy

Eugene Hernandez, the longtime director of the Sundance Film Festival, offered his most extensive remarks to date on the organization's transition to Boulder, Colorado, describing the logistical overhaul as "unprecedented" in scale while also addressing the festival's emerging stance on films generated by artificial intelligence. Speaking at a press roundtable Tuesday, Hernandez acknowledged that the relocation from Park City, Utah - the festival's home for more than four decades - has required a fundamental rethinking of nearly every operational process, from venue selection to audience transportation. He characterized the move as both a necessity and an opportunity, though he stressed that the transition remains a work in progress with significant hurdles still ahead.

The Boulder Transition

Hernandez confirmed that the festival's leadership has been in close coordination with city officials in Boulder, local arts organizations, and University of Colorado administrators to build an infrastructure capable of accommodating Sundance's sprawling January program. He noted that the shift involves not just physical spaces but also the cultural rhythms of a community that has never hosted a festival of this magnitude. "The work is unlike anything we've done before," Hernandez said, without specifying exact completion dates or financial figures. He emphasized that the team is focused on preserving the intimate, discovery-driven ethos that defined Sundance in its Park City years while adapting to a new environment that offers different logistical advantages, such as a more centralized campus and stronger transit links.

The director also addressed concerns among longtime attendees about the loss of Park City's historic charm. He acknowledged that nostalgia is natural but argued that the festival's mission to amplify independent voices requires a willingness to evolve. He cited rising costs, limited venue capacity, and the need for year-round programming as factors that made the relocation inevitable. Hernandez declined to provide a specific timeline for when the Boulder edition will fully launch, saying only that the transition will occur over multiple cycles to minimize disruption for filmmakers and audiences.

AI and the Festival's Future

On the question of whether Sundance will accept films that incorporate artificial intelligence in their creation, Hernandez offered a nuanced position that stopped short of an outright ban. He said the festival is in the midst of developing guidelines that distinguish between AI used as a tool for creative enhancement and AI that replaces human authorship. "We are not going to pretend this technology doesn't exist," Hernandez remarked. "But we also are not going to accept work where the algorithm is the artist." He emphasized that Sundance's core commitment remains to human storytelling and that any submission involving AI would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with transparency requirements for filmmakers to disclose the extent of machine involvement.

Hernandez acknowledged the deep anxiety within the independent film community about AI's potential to devalue labor and originality. He pointed to ongoing conversations with writers, directors, and unions to ensure that Sundance's policies do not inadvertently encourage exploitation. He said the festival plans to release a formal policy document before the next submission cycle, and that it will likely include restrictions on fully AI-generated scripts and performances, while allowing for AI-assisted editing or visual effects if they serve a clear artistic purpose.

The director also addressed the broader industry context, noting that major studios and streamers are grappling with similar questions. He characterized Sundance's role as a bellwether for independent cinema, suggesting that how the festival handles AI submissions could influence other festivals and grant programs. "We have a responsibility to set a standard," he said. "But we also have to be careful not to alienate filmmakers who are experimenting with new tools in good faith."

Hernandez's comments come as the festival prepares to announce its full lineup for the 2027 edition, which will still take place in Park City as part of a phased transition. He did not rule out the possibility that AI-created films could appear in future programs, but he made clear that any such inclusion would be an exception, not the norm. For now, he said, the festival's priority remains the relocation effort, which he described as the most complex operational challenge Sundance has ever faced.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter