So you want to volunteer at Sundance. Here's what you should know.

Boulder is preparing to host the beloved independent film festival from January 21-31, 2027 after 45 years in Park City, Utah. Local, national and international cinephiles volunteer every year, trading a few hours of their time for free tickets to screenings, access to events and more. 

“We had 21 countries represented in last year’s volunteer pool,” said Brian Marquez, senior volunteer manager at Sundance. “People have a lot of passion for this festival and it shows in the dedication of our volunteers.”

Volunteer applications open August 31. The festival has more than 2,000 positions to fill, including roles in media relations, customer service, ushering and venue operations.

The festival recently released new information on how to get involved. We read it so you don’t have to.

First of all, what is the Sundance Film Festival?

Filmmaker Robert Redford founded Sundance Film Festival in 1978 as a way to showcase independent films. Named for Redford’s character in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” the festival has a reputation for launching breakout directors into superstardom — imagine being in the small festival audience when the once-obscure director Quentin Tarantino premiered “Reservoir Dogs.” Other Sundance gems include Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” Celine Song’s “Past Lives,” and the documentary “Hoop Dreams.” Sundance welcomed 85,000 in-person attendees last year and similar numbers are expected in Boulder — not to mention the thousands of people around the world who participate virtually.  

Prior to his death in 2025, Redford knew the festival had outgrown Park City. Bidding began in 2024 to find a new host city, and Boulder triumphed over Cincinnati, Ohio thanks to some hefty tax credits and Boulder’s reputation within the arts scene. It’s a homecoming for the legacy of Sundance due to Redford's history in Boulder, including a stint at CU Boulder and employment at The Sink restaurant. 

Sundance brought in $196 million in revenue to Park City last year, with Boulder hoping for a sizable economic boost as well. The 10-day festival covers a two square mile radius in central Boulder, including screenings, panels and events throughout the day at various locations. Notable venues include Chautauqua Auditorium, the Boulderado Hotel, and Boulder Public Library. 

What does volunteering look like?

The time commitment varies depending on volunteer type. Ranging from “full festival” to “student,” most options include several four-hour shifts or one longer shift. All volunteering requires outside training and includes access to exclusive screenings, gear and festival swag, as well as meal vouchers for various restaurants in Boulder. 

A group of volunteer coordinators join Marquez next month to help with application review and candidate outreach. 

“We strive to have a phone call with every volunteer we choose to walk them through the process,” Marquez said. “It’s obviously a lot of phone calls, so once we start going through applications it gets really busy.”

Marquez said they receive several thousand applications a year, and said the nature of volunteering helps narrow things down. 

“It’s a volunteer role, so things come up for people and we have a lot of people drop out after they’ve been selected,” Marquez said. “We can’t expect people to reserve that time for us if it’s all volunteer, so we are replacing folks up until the day the festival starts.”

So, how do I apply?

Applications open August 31 via a digital form. Marquez and his team are hosting virtual information sessions throughout September for those interested in applying, free of charge. You can sign up for a session and get even more details on what volunteering looks like. 

Denver local Edward Nofe started participating in Sundance in 2021 when he discovered the festival’s virtual option and is gearing up to submit his application shortly. He recently attended one of the volunteer information sessions and guessed there were hundreds of other people on the call.

“Sundance is a great opportunity for the state and gives me an opportunity to finally attend the festival in person,” Nofe said. “I’ve volunteered with Sundance and the Sie FilmCenter for years, so I’m really hoping I get accepted.”

Nofe believes some of the industry’s best storytelling comes out of Sundance and knows people are very eager to volunteer. However, he warns, the festival takes this role very seriously.

“You need to make it clear you’re there for the right purposes, to help,” Nofe said. “You can’t just volunteer and expect to go to parties and see celebrities.”

Additional information sessions will be offered on the following dates:

• Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026 – 5:30pm to 6:30 p.m. 
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – 5:30pm to 6:30 p.m.

Where is everyone going to stay?

Housing during the festival is a hot topic among locals, with many curious how the city will host tens of thousands of festival-goers. The city created a new rental license in April 2026 that temporarily expands who can offer short-term lodging during the event in an effort to spread visitors across more Boulder neighborhoods by allowing second homes and tenant-occupied properties to enter the lodging market.

Volunteers are taking a page out of the Olympics’ playbook and building a village. Volunteer Village sets up camp in Longmont, using a combination of hotels in close proximity of each other to house a small number of those 2,000+ volunteers.

“If you’re working the festival full-time, or traveling from out of state, out of the country, that obviously makes you more likely to receive housing accommodations,” Marquez said. “We can’t promise housing to anyone who lives in the Boulder or Denver area.”

Marquez said volunteer housing was more spread out in Park City, so he’s looking forward to fostering a sense of community among this year’s volunteers.

“Everything is just a bit closer together in Boulder, which we love,” Marquez said.