Sundance’s leadership speaks frankly about how the organization will forge ahead in an anxious moment for the industry, from the rise of AI to the festival’s possible move out of Utah: “Change is a good thing.

However, one independent sales exec and Sundance regular told us: “The mood is very bad. L.A. is like a ghost town. There is sure to be a knock on impact on Sundance. Those whose houses were in the line of the fires aren’t going to Park City, I’m sure. Everything is on hold in terms of financing. There is paralysis.”

Just more than a week before Sundance 2025 kicks off, the resort town has made the long-desired decision to make Park City ‘s often-congested Main Street car-free for the duration of the festival, which runs January 23-Feburary 2.

A Cody, Wyoming, filmmaker is a coproducer for the documentary “Free Leonard Peltier," which will debut next week at the Sundance Film Festival. The