Portman and Rogen Light Up Sundance 2026 with Comedy Premieres

The **Sundance Film Festival**, organized by the nonprofit Sundance Institute, serves as the premier platform for independent filmmakers, showcasing dramatic and documentary features, short films, episodic content, and emerging voices through annual events in Park City, Utah.[1][2][5][6] It fosters original storytelling via screenings, panels, workshops, and filmmaker labs, drawing ~85,000 attendees including industry insiders and audiences.[5][6] Founded in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival in Salt Lake City by Sterling Van Wagenen and John Earle to promote indie cinema and boost Utah tourism, it faced early financial struggles.[1][3][5] Robert Redford, appointed chairman in 1981, revitalized it by establishing the Sundance Institute for year-round support—offering grants, script labs, and resources—and relocating to Park City in 1985 for a winter vibe, renaming it Sundance after his *Butch Cassidy* character.[1][2][4][5] By 1991, it solidified as the Sundance Film Festival under full Institute control.[3][5] **Key achievements** include launching blockbusters like Steven Soderbergh's *sex, lies, and videotape* (1989 Audience Award winner, later Palme d'Or recipient), Quentin Tarantino's works, and films by the Coens, plus docs like *American Dream* and *When We Were Kings*.[1][2][4][5] Milestones feature World Cinema (2005), New Frontier, and Midnight sections, with global outreach via awards like Sundance/NHK.[2] Today, it screens ~90-120 films over 10 days, with categories like U.S./World Dramatic/Documentary Competitions, NEXT, Premieres, and Shorts, awarding Grand Jury and Audience Prizes.[2][3][5][6] As of 2026 planning, it remains a career launchpa

The **George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater**, located at 131 South Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, is a premier performing arts center operated by the non-profit Salt Lake County Arts & Culture (SLCAC).[1][2][5] Opened on October 21, 2016, after breaking ground in June 2014 at a $119 million cost, it hosts touring **Broadway shows**, concerts, comedy, local performances, community events, and innovative festivals, complementing venues like the Capitol Theatre.[1][2][5][7] Designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners as a LEED Gold-certified landmark (185,000 sq. ft.), the theater draws inspiration from southern Utah's canyons, featuring a **2,468-seat Delta Performance Hall** with a 50' x 50' proscenium, configurable orchestra pit, and top-tier acoustics, plus a flexible **Regent Street Black Box** seating 150-250 for intimate shows.[1][3][5] Its five-story glass lobby boasts colorful balustrades, chandeliers, terrazzo floors, outdoor terraces with mountain views, and public art, connecting to the 111 Main office tower and fostering a thriving arts district near City Creek Center and Gallivan Plaza.[2][3][4][5] Key achievements include a blockbuster first year with **197 performances** attracting over **350,000 patrons**, solidifying its role in Utah's high per-capita arts attendance—tops nationally per NEA studies.[3][7] It anchors the **Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles** and **Live at the Eccles** series, presented by partners like Magic Space Entertainment, drawing stars in music, comedy, and talks.[5][7] As of 2026, it remains a Sundance Film Festival venue and cultural hub, blending modern elegance with family-friendly amenities for conferences, receptions, an