The City of Minneapolis is bidding to host one of the premier film festivals in the world.
Minneapolis bid organizers say they've been selected as one of 15 cities to submit an official proposal to officials with Sundance.
City leaders say Minneapolis is a perfect spot for the event, with what they describe as a thriving arts and entertainment scene, along with its long support of supporting independent filmmakers, and have support across a large cross section from the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
The Sundance Film Festival was founded by actor Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute began managing the festival in 1984. Their current contract with Park City, Utah, where it has been held since 1984, expires in 2026.
In 1991, the festival was officially renamed the Sundance Film Festival, after Redford's character the Sundance Kid from the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".
Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. A decision will be announced early next year.
Other cities that have expressed interest include Boulder, Colorado, Atlanta, Georgia, San Francisco, Chicago, Buffalo, New York and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Many films premiering at Sundance have gone on to be nominated and win Oscars over its history.