“IFS was established in 1941 by English professor James Sando, the same guy who started the ,” said Phelps, the current director of IFS. “That¶¶Òőap a long lineage of directors. Before Pablo Kjolseth started in the late ’90s, it was run by Steve Wingate. In my opinion, James [Sando] and Pablo are the two legacy-makers for IFS, and the two most significant names. Pablo helmed the program over lots of industry changes — digital conversion and the [COVID-19] pandemic, most notably.”

Phelps, 42, has a film-studies degree from CU Boulder and lives in Westminster (he’s been too busy to check out the Alamo Drafthouse there) with his wife and 18-month-old daughter. Before taking over as IFS director, Phelps — a military brat who grew up partly in Europe, where he was exposed to films via VHS tapes that American relatives shipped overseas — spent 25 years “in various roles on the exhibition side of [film] and was a filmmaker myself for a bit.” He took over as IFS director four years ago, but started working for the program under Kjolseth’s watch in the fall of 2011.

“I was a student employee, so that was my job title — student assistant, I think, is technically what they’re called,” Phelps said. “I worked in cashiering a little bit, and then Pablo threw me in the project booth pretty fast. That¶¶Òőap where I spent a lot of time, especially since I could run a 35 pretty well. He really treasured that.”

When it comes to transitioning from student employee to running IFS, Phelps said: “It was an intimidating thing because there’s such a legacy, and particularly with Pablo doing it for 25 years. Those were big shoes to fill. There’s that little bit of imposter syndrome sometimes; it¶¶Òőap a big thing because of just what IFS means to the community and to the university, and to a lot of people who come to it.”

One of the biggest challenges for an IFS director is putting together the schedule for each season of the series. and features over 50 diverse and intriguing films curated by Phelps in coordination with other programs at the university.

“I remember when I first started,” Phelps said. “There was this idea, like, ‘Oh my god — how am I going to fill this calendar every semester? Am I going to be able to come up with 60 films to play a semester? I absolutely have the opposite problem now. I have to cut so many titles that I want to put on every single semester. It¶¶Òőap heartbreaking. It¶¶Òőap the hardest thing. There are films I even have on the counter now that I’ve been trying put on for years. But it¶¶Òőap rewarding to be able to bring all these films to people, and to have this community that¶¶Òőap really enthusiastic. And it¶¶Òőap the public-facing arm of the cinema-studies department; it funnels a lot of people through that, which is really nice to see.”

This fall, Phelps is bringing Boulder everything from an eccentric Alex Cox film (“Dead Souls,” on Sept. 9 with the director appearing in person) and a silent film with an improvised soundtrack (“The Freshman,” on Sept. 1 with pianist Rodney Sauer) to Hollywood favorites like “The Big Lebowski” (Nov. 16, with Lebowski sound editor Skip Lievsay in person) and the first three Peter Jackson “Lord of the Rings” movies (Sept. 18-20) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Also, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 version of “King Kong,” Phelps is bringing the three “main” “King Kong” editions (1933, 1976 and 2005) and juxtaposing them with some “other giant-animal movies,” including “Night of the Lepus” (Dec. 4), one of his all-time-favorite flicks, about a town terrorized by giant rabbits played by “run-of-the-mill rabbits.”

Other notable IFS events this fall include “Whiplash” (Monday), a great music-oriented film Phelps believes will be a perfect vehicle for saluting Muenzinger’s new audio capabilities and the January arrival of Sundance Film Festival in Boulder. A Sundance representative will be in attendance to introduce “Whiplash.” Muenzinger will also serve as a Sundance film screening venue, and for the festival’s arrival, CU added accessible seating, updated speaker arrays along the walls and a new screen to accommodate Dolby Atmos immersive sound speakers, .

“I think the arrival of Sundance is going to be a net positive for sure,” said Phelps. “I think there’s gonna be so much good that¶¶Òőap going to come from that. We’re also celebrating the work and the money put into Muenzinger, and we were trying to find a title that really emphasized sound. ‘Whiplash’ just kind of fit really well. I’m excited about that one.”

Boulder cyclists -- and there are certainly many — (Sept. 21). The event will be a fundraiser for the Buffalo Bicycle Classic, with an in-person appearance by Jim Packer, the documentary’s producer and a CU alum.

“When it comes to a lot of these titles, it¶¶Òőap kind of all over the place,” Phelps said. “That is intentional. Part of it is because I want people to
Say they recognize ‘Lord of the Rings’; maybe they’ll take a leap of faith on something else, something that¶¶Òőap maybe a little different and, you know, broadening the horizons of what cinema can be. That¶¶Òőap what IFS is for -- making those connections with cinema and the people around you. I’m excited for it. It¶¶Òőap gonna be a good semester.”

will explore the festival’s story through the perspective of artists who have influenced and been influenced by the event, the announced Thursday.

The event will feature filmmaker and Sundance Institute board member Amy Redford (“The Guitar,” “What Comes Around”); writer/director Rian Johnson (“Knives Out,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Brick”); writer/director Dee Rees (“Mudbound,” “Pariah”); producer Christine Vachon (“Past Lives,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”); and others.

“The history of the Sundance Film Festival is really the history of the artists who’ve participated over the decades, the films they’ve debuted, the risks they’ve taken and the experiences they’ve shared with audiences,” festival Director Eugene Hernandez said in a statement.

The Sept. 8 event at DU’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts will highlight “rarely heard” stories from past festivals, Hernandez added. Tickets start at $29 for adults and $15 for students and are available .

Colorado’s debut of the Sundance Film Festival is set for Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 and is expected to bring Hollywood icons, along with tens of thousands of attendees, to the foot of the Flatirons. More information about festival passes and tickets will be released in September.

The short-term rental service this week announced a $200 bonus for property owners putting their homes up on Airbnb. The incentive applies only to someone who has no active listings in the city as of Aug. 1. The listing must also be for an entire home, be open in January 2027, have a January 2027 booking confirmed by Dec. 31 this year, and cost at least $100 before taxes. The bonus is added to any hosting income.

Tenants who are renting a house and have an agreement with their landlord to rent it out during Sundance are eligible for the bonus, so long as they meet the other requirements.

Jill Grano, a local housing and real estate professional, calls the bonus “great.” She served with Gov. Jared Polis’ office as the statewide director of housing for the relocation effort of the Sundance Film Festival.

“It essentially covers the license fee, which is a barrier to entry for many, especially those with homes that will be more affordable to attendees,” Grano, who is running for Boulder City Council, wrote in an email to the Daily Camera.

When parsed down to a single night, those prices budge a bit. For example, listings for Jan. 25-26 range from $92 for a room to thousands for luxurious multi-bedroom homes. Another listing for a single bedroom that night in a home near Hayden Reservoir goes for $834. A majority of the listings for those check-in, check-out dates go for a few hundred dollars.

There are 21 house listings in Boulder proper on Airbnb for Sundance’s first night in Boulder, which is Jan. 21-22. Those listings range in price from $183 for a townhome near Parkside Park to $7,989 for a four-bedroom, five-bed and five-bath home in north Boulder near Lover’s Hill Park.

The city’s $34 million initial incentive package to bring Sundance to Boulder banked on the famous film festival bringing people into town and spending money that would boost the local economy. But the high rental prices sparked concern that more attendees may stay out of town. For example, AirBNB listings in Longmont for Sundance’s first night are substantially lower than those in Boulder. A one-bed, one-bath in Longmont¶¶Òőap Stoney Ridge neighborhood is listed at $77 for that night, and a one-bed, two-bathroom home near McIntosh Lake is listed at $113.

. Bookmark this link for the latest developments: .

Boulder has traditionally had restrictive rules around short-term rentals. The city responded to the lodging pressure by in April 2026 that temporarily expands who can offer short-term lodging during the event.

By allowing second homes and tenant-occupied properties to enter the lodging market, the policy could broaden who earns lodging income and spread visitor spending across more Boulder neighborhoods.

As an , I study housing policy and local public finance. I am particularly interested in how local governments serve as laboratories of democracy – and who benefits and bears the costs of their policy experiments.

Lodging policy for a predictable demand spike

Sundance is an that showcases independent storytelling by featuring dramatic and documentary films, shorts, premieres and filmmaker discussions. After more than four decades in Utah, .

In Utah in 2025, 85,472 in-person attendees, including nearly 28,000 visitors from outside the state. Not all attendees require lodging or visit at the same time. Even so, that scale is large relative to ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s existing lodging capacity.

According to , there are roughly 2,900 hotel rooms and 685 standard short-term rental licenses in Boulder.

Hotels are generally built to accommodate demand that persists throughout the year or recurs predictably across seasons. Constructing enough hotel rooms to accommodate the Sundance peak would leave many rooms empty the rest of the year. However, homes and spare bedrooms can enter the lodging market temporarily, then return to residential use.

”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s require a dwelling to be the owner’s principal residence, meaning an owner must occupy the dwelling for more than half the year. Those restrictions are intended to prevent homes from being converted into full-time tourist accommodations.

The new , designed specifically for Sundance, expands the preexisting rules. Any property ownership type may qualify, including nonprimary residences, such as second homes and long-term rentals. Hosts may rent an entire home, a single room or a smaller secondary living space on the property, such as a backyard cottage or an in-law suite.

Festival rentals are capped at 29 total days per year. They can operate only during a city-approved window covering the 10 days before and the nine days after the festival.

The new policy is intended to support ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s economy and reduce traffic and emissions from people staying outside the city, all while preserving most homes primarily for residents.

City officials have estimated that the policy could add , on top of existing short-term rental licenses. Actual participation will depend on myriad factors like rental prices, owner consent, homeowners’ association rules and residents’ willingness to leave or share their homes.

Who benefits from the festival

Sundance’s move to Boulder was supported by substantial public incentives. For example, a recent Colorado law makes a qualifying global film festival eligible for up to from 2027 to 2036. This tax credit . Because the credits reduce state resources, the economic case depends partly on whether Sundance generates enough new wages, business income and tax revenue in Colorado to justify that public cost.

Sundance’s commissioned 2025 report estimated that out-of-state visitors spent over . As , gross spending merely indicates the scale of economic activity – and not how much the host city benefits.

In this context, local benefits would include additional wages earned by local workers, profits retained by locally owned businesses, and tax revenue received by local governments. Not every visitor dollar produces such benefits. Some revenue ultimately flows to nonlocal suppliers. Festival-related sales can also be offset if visitors displace tourists who otherwise would have come, or if residents avoid crowded areas and to another time or place.

Two studies show that short-term rentals can be especially valuable to consumers and hosts when major events strain hotel capacity. One found that Airbnb created its largest economic benefits to visitors and hosts when hotels were close to full, such as . Another documented a similar effect around Austin, Texas’ when additional home-sharing listings . By providing places to stay precisely when demand surges, short-term rentals cause hotel prices to rise less than they otherwise would.

The most direct beneficiaries of ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s new short-term rental policy will be hosts. Hotels would ordinarily capture much of the income generated by scarce lodging. ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s policy opens some of that opportunity to homeowners, second-home owners and, with the owner’s permission, tenants.

Festival benefits can extend beyond lodging to the local business community. A study in New York City found that greater Airbnb activity , likely because guests spent money near where they stayed. That suggests festival rentals could spread festival attendees throughout the Boulder area and not just near existing hotels and festival screening venues.

Do policy guardrails matter?

The same short-term rentals that add lodging during a demand spike can create housing problems if homes remain in the tourist market afterward. National research suggests that Airbnb growth can , contributing to .

There is also that even temporary increases in demand for short-term rentals can result in a persistent increase in local Airbnb listings. However, the restrictions on ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s new limit this risk by restricting rentals to a city-approved event window.

After the 2027 festival, Boulder officials can begin evaluating the policy on three dimensions: Did it add meaningful lodging capacity? Were the economic benefits shared among tenants, workers, businesses and neighborhoods? And did it protect the long-term housing supply?

If Boulder were to publish comprehensive data, it could help other jurisdictions confronting similar short-term demand surges.

Tim Komarek is an associate professor of economics at Colorado State University. This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

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Because Colorado is cool.

From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, from the urban corridor to tiny towns on the Western Slope, from Denver to Durango, from La Junta to Rifle, from the Arkansas River to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado is a beautiful, diverse tapestry.

We have wonderful music, vibrant arts, hiking, biking, skiing, rafting, fishing, paragliding and good eating. A Colorado experience can be weird, wild, scary, spectacular, sublime, or soothing.

But seldom boring.

As the Centennial State celebrates its 150th birthday, here are 150 things that are quintessentially Colorado:

1. A summer concert at Red Rocks: Music at the world-renowned, natural sandstone amphitheater fills the soul.

2. Maroon Bells: Too pretty to be real — but they are, and undoubtedly the most photographed spot in the state.

3. Powder days: Getting off the Panoramic lift at Winter Park on a bluebird day, skiing Vail’s Back Bowls, or riding clouds of champagne powder at Steamboat: heaven.

4. Bagging a fourteener: Summiting one of Colorado’s 58 ranked and unranked peaks that rise above 14,000 feet in elevation is a rite of passage for many.

5. Palisade peaches: Juicy and sweet, the famous, scrumptious Western Slope fruit is available late July through September.

6. State flag: How many other states celebrate — and market — their state flag like Colorado? (Fun fact: The blue stripes represent Colorado skies, the white is for snow-capped peaks, the golden circle is sunshine, and the red “C” represents the rocks and earth.)

7. Opening day at Coors Field: Colorado’s Mardi Gras as baseball fans and partyers — not necessarily in that order — pour into LoDo.

8. Riding Mr. Twister: Baby Boomers got their thrills riding the roller coaster, which opened in 1964 at the original Elitch Gardens in north Denver. debuted at the new location in 2023.

9. : Fielder was not only a spectacular nature photographer, but he was also a state historian.

10. KBCO radio: Long before streaming and SiriusXM came along, KBCO’s “World Class Rock’ brought quality music and new artists to listeners in the Denver-Boulder area, starting in 1976.

11. Manitou Incline: Want to get your steps in? Hike “The Incline,” in less than a mile via 2,768 steep steps.

12. Colorado Columbine: The state flower (Aquilegia caerulea) blooms in summer and brings a smile to every hiker’s face.

13. Rocky Mountain big horn sheep: The state animal was nearing extinction around 1900, but conservation efforts saved them. There are now in Colorado.

14. : The Arkansas River Valley produces watermelon, honeydew, and, most famously, cantaloupe, which have up to 3% more sugar than California cantaloupe. (Fun fact: Rocky Ford High School’s mascot is a Meloneer.)

15. Chipotle: “Do you want guac on that?” In 1993, Steve Ells, a graduate of Boulder High School and CU Boulder, opened the first Chipotle Mexican Grill blocks from the University of Denver.

16. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs: The spring waters — called Yampah, or literally “Big Medicine,” by Utes — have been soothing tired muscles and spirits for centuries. It’s now touted as the .

17. Mesa Verde National Park: Established in 1906, the cliff dwellings give visitors a glimpse of what life was like over 700 years ago when the Ancestral Pueblo people built thriving agricultural communities on the mesas and in the cliffs.

18. Great Sand Dunes National Park: Hike the tallest dunes in North America or sand sled or sandboard down the slopes. Then look into .

19. Pikes Peak: The 14,115-foot peak is touted as “America’s Mountain.” Drive to the top, hike up or ride the world’s highest and longest cog railroad.

20. Bolder Boulder: It’s not just a run, it’s also a celebration, complete with costumes. The Memorial Day 10K began in 1979 with 2,700 entrants. By 2004, it was the largest timed 10K in the world, with 47,454 participants.

21. Bent’s Old Fort: The reconstructed adobe fortress became a national historic site in 1960. It was built in 1833 as near the Arkansas River along the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail.

22. Colorado welcome signs: There are 40 of the wooden, brown-and-white “Welcome to Colorado” road signs around the state. The design dates back to the 1950s.

23. Telluride Bluegrass Festival: It began as the Telluride Fourth of July Celebration in 1973. It became the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on July 6, 1974. Emmylou Harris once called it “the Valhalla of places to perform.”

24. View from Wolf Creek Pass: Coming off the pass, looking west toward Pagosa Springs, is the look above the west fork of the San Juan River Valley. Breathtaking.

25. Empower Field at Mile High: Exiting the stadium with the fans after a big win is a magic carpet ride.

26. Stanley Hotel: Founded in 1909 by F.O Stanley, the reigns over Estes Park and sits at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park. And it was the inspiration for Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

27. Garden of the Gods: The park was gifted to Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins. , a 35-foot, 1.4-million-pound red rock, is the star.

28. Subarus: Preferably with a sticker-covered Thule strapped to the top of an Outback, they are Colorado’s vehicle of choice. Or so it seems.

29. Hanging Lake: A short but steep and rocky hike takes you to a cliffside turquoise . It was named a National Natural Landmark in 2011.

30. South Park vista: From the top of Kenosha Pass, the valley — filled with green ranchland, twisting creeks and rimmed with snowcapped peaks — seems to go on forever.

31. The Numbers: A challenging, whitewater stretch of the Arkansas River just south of Buena Vista, The Numbers is a guaranteed adrenaline rush.

32. Big Blue Bear: The 40-foot-high bear, created by local artist Lawrence Argent, peers into the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.

33. “Blucifer:” Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore the 32-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture with glowing red eyes on Peña Blvd approaching Denver International Airport.

Blucifer just turned 13. But the family of the artist who died creating it would prefer you don’t call it that.

34. Eisenhower Tunnel: The only bore through the Continental Divide that is named after a U.S. president. (The accompanying is named for Gov. Edwin C. Johnson.)

35. Frozen Dead Guy Days: The festival, begun in Nederland in 2002 and relocated to Estes Park in 2023, revolves around , a Norwegian mountain pioneer who died in 1989 but is cryogenically preserved.

36. The Broadmoor: Known for comfortable luxury, the famed hotel opened in 1918 and is the longest-running, consecutive Forbes five-star, AAA five-diamond resort in the country.

37. The Brown Palace: The Downtown Denver hotel has been a landmark since 1892. It has hosted U.S. presidents, heads of state, and in 1964 ... The Beatles!

38. The Colorado Trail: One of the most spectacular long-distance trails in the country, the 567-mile Rocky Mountain journey begins in Denver and finishes in Durango.

39. Grand Lake fireworks: The over the state's largest natural lake, deep in the mountains, is unforgettable.

40. : You can't miss the signs touting the store's “Stetson Hats, “Levi Overalls” and more. According to Rocky Mountain PBS, there are 100 of the signs alongside US 40 and Colorado 131, starting 100 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs.

41. Golf at elevation: Everyone has a favorite course, from municipal links to posh country clubs. But it's tough to top Grand Junction's Redlands Mesa.

42. : The 17.6-mile  trail in southeast Colorado features 150-million-year-old dinosaur footprints and prehistoric Native American rock art.

43. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: A spectacular ride into the past along the Animas River through canyons in the San Juan National Forest, active since 1882.

44. : About 15 miles north of Durango are the iconic cliffs where Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy) and Robert Redford (The Sundance Kid) jumped into the Animas River to escape a posse. (Fun fact: Part of the famous scene was filmed in California.)

45. Rocky Mountain National Park: How to describe Colorado's slice of mountain paradise? The park's 415 square miles encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments, from meadows to alpine lakes to towering peaks.

46. : There were nearly 2,500 wooden carousels carved in America between 1885 and the 1930s, but fewer than 150 survived. One of the best can be found at the county fairgrounds in Burlington.

47. Pawnee National Grassland: Covering 193,060 acres northeast of Greeley, it is home to hundreds of birds, pronghorn antelopes and other wildlife.

48. Crested Butte wildflowers: The town owns the title as “Wildflower Capital of Colorado.” Look for varieties like lupine, paintbrush, elephant heads, fireweed and glacier lilies.

49. : Within the 32 square miles of the Colorado Plateau in northwest Colorado are towering stone monoliths, red-rock canyons and the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

50. : A thundering triple waterfall and limestone caves make this a gem of the Colorado State Parks system.

51. DIA: The largest U.S. airport in square miles is easily recognizable, with its tent-like roof intended to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies. (It's also known for  conspiracy theories, never-ending construction projects, parking woes, long security lines ... .)

52. Complaining about Californians and Texans: Come on, admit it, you've done it.

53. "Rocky Mountain High": You sing along when you hear John Denver's ode to Colorado, the state's second official song. (The first is “Where the Columbines Grow.”)

54. The : Held annually in January at the National Western Complex, the event has celebrated Colorado's cowboy roots since 1906.

55. : In late July, Fairplay celebrates its heritage with burro, llama, dog and outhouse races, as well as a parade. The fete began in 1949 when a challenge went out to anyone who wanted to race alongside a burro from Leadville to Fairplay.

56. Sliding down a snow field: It's boiling hot on the Eastern Plains, but nice and cool at 11,990 feet on Loveland Pass. Find a patch of snow and away you go! (Don't forget the selfies.)

57. Fly fishing: Colorado is heaven for anglers casting for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. What's the best spot? The Gunnison River? The Frying Pan River? The fly fisherman will never tell.

58. : With steep, dramatic walls that range from 2,700 to 1,750 feet, this national park east of Montrose is stunning.

59. Hot-air balloon festivals in Colorado -- like the ones in Telluride, Erie, Colorado Springs and Moffat County -- offer kaleidoscopes of color against Rocky Mountain skies. (Wanna take a ride? There are that will take you up.)

60.: Before craft brewing was all the rage, there was Coors in Golden, the largest single-site brewery in the world.

61. Ralphie: CU's famous buffalo just might be the best mascot in college football. (The current Ralphie, nicknamed Brandy, is the seventh bison to fill the role.)

62. : At the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley, the area includes a Hindu temple, a Zen center, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and various New Age activities.

63. : Touted as the oldest tavern in Denver, continuously serving fine beers and spirits since 1873, it also offers a famous jalapeño cream cheese burger.

64. Dinger: Love him or not, the purple Triceratops mascot for the Colorado Rockies has been around since  April 16, 1994, famously "hatching" from an oversized egg on the grounds that would become Coors Field.

65.  "Bucky" the Bronco: , Bucky first stood above the scoreboard at the original Mile High Stadium. He now stands atop the South Stand scoreboard at Empower Field at Mile High.

66. Loveland Valentines: The northern Colorado town, known as the Sweetheart City, has been for 80 years.

67. : For more than six decades, thespians have performed The Bard's works under the stars on the University of Colorado Boulder campus at the Mary Rippon Theatre.

68.  : The annual party celebrates Pueblo's famed green. Every September, more than 100,000 people stroll along Pueblo’s historic Union Avenue listening to live music, browsing local art and getting tastes of roasted chiles.

69. Million Dollar Highway: Stunning and scary (for some), the road travels between Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado. Full of switchbacks and sheer cliffs, it .

70. : Telluride, perhaps Colorado's most picturesque mountain town, sits in a box canyon. At the end of the canyon, you’ll find the highest free-falling waterfall in the state.

71. :  Dating back to the founding of the Town of San Luis in 1851, the late July weekend festival celebrates the history of Colorado's oldest town with bands, vendors, parades, mariachi mass, a softball tournament, food stalls and a 10k run.

72. Chapel at the Air Force Academy: The (closed until 2028 for renovation) is the most recognizable building at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The aluminum, glass, and steel structure features 17 spires that shoot 150 feet into the sky.

73. New Year's fireworks on Pikes Peak: For more than 100 years, members of the AdAmAn Club have hiked Pikes Peak to ring in the New Year with a fireworks display on the famous mountain.

74. Near Grand Junction, this trail features 35 sandstone arches, the second-highest concentration of natural rock arches in North America outside Utah.

75. : A 32-mile mountain bike route that descends 6,000 feet from the top of the Grand Mesa to the town of Palisade. Spectacular.

76. America's oldest whitewater festival is held along the banks of the Arkansas River in June. It features concerts, craft beer, river rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, and running. FYI,  FIBArk stands for "First in Boating in the Arkansas River."

77. : Located in Teller County, in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, the monument protects 34-million-year-old fossils of redwood trees and insects.

78. : For more than 40 years, the Lakewood restaurant has served Mexican food in a pink adobe building that features caves, cliff divers, and endless sopapillas. The iconic restaurant gained cult fame after being featured in an episode of "South Park." Casa Bonita (Spanish for “pretty house") is now owned by the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

79. Mountaintop matrimony: For 35 years, couples have gathered on the Forest Meadow run at to exchange vows and kisses at 12,000 feet.

80. : Dating back to 1879, the saloon is an enduring piece of Leadville’s history with a classic, wild-west oak bar. Touted as "a gathering place for locals, outlaws, and legends," it has hosted figures such as Doc Holliday, Molly Brown and Oscar Wilde, and witnessed the rise and fall of Leadville’s mining boom.

81. : Founded in 1932, it's the fifth-oldest professional opera company in the country. The summer performances take place at 8,500 feet in the intimate 550-seat opera house built in 1878.

82. : Held annually during Labor Day weekend for 52 years, the event matches movies and the mountains. The 2025 event included the debut of "Springstreen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

83.  A: Just outside the historic San Juan Mountains town of Silverton, the well-preserved ghost town features abandoned buildings and mining structures, taking visitors back to Silverton's mining frontier history.

84. Meeker base camp: The town in the northwest corner of the state is the center for some of the best in Colorado. Hunters encounter terrain ranging from 6,000 feet to mountain peaks exceeding 12,200 feet in the Flattops Wilderness.

85. : The annual 10-day celebration, culminating on the Fourth of July, brings the Northern Colorado community together with rodeos, concerts, carnival rides, parades and more.

86. galore: Need some culcha? The dozens of museums in Colorado can help. Among them: the Denver Art Museum; the Firefighters Museum; the Museum of Nature & Science; the Museum of Illusions; the Morrison Natural History Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver; the Museum of Northwest Colorado; the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum; The ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy; the Children's Museum of Denver; Colorado Railroad Museum; Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum; the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery; the Aspen Art Museum; the Museum of the West; the National Mining Museum; Forney Transportation Museum; the Clyfford Still Museum; the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum; and the History Colorado Museum, where you can currently see "Zoom In: The Centennial State in 100 Objects."

87. Rocky Mountain Oysters: A famous -- or is it infamous? -- delicacy consisting of deep-fried, thinly sliced bull or bison testicles.

88. :  The original "mountain pie" pizza restaurant opened in Idaho Springs in 1973 and has been a sanctuary to escape I-70 ski traffic ever since.

80. : A restaurant with heads of actual wildlife on the walls? That they can then serve you? Seriously? (And they also offer Rocky Mountain oysters; see above.) Wild.

90. Colorado natives: Who brag about being Colorado natives.

91. Transplants: Who are annoyed by those who brag about being Colorado natives.

92. The Front Range: Even after decades of living in Colorado, you catch yourself pulling over on Interstate 25 to snap a photo of the majestic mountains after a rainshower, when the clouds are lying heavy on the horizon. Stunning.

93. Glenwood Canyon, that took 12 years to build. Workers had to bore three tunnels through the canyon’s rock; built 15 miles of retaining walls to hold the road in place; and construct  40 bridges and viaducts, according to CDOT. Amaze amaze amaze. (If you get it, you get it.)

94. Sleigh rides, dog sled rides: Take an old-fashioned in Steamboat Springs, or zip behind a pulling you along snowy Breckenridge trails. The kids will never forget it.

95. : The home of Titanic survivor Margaret Brown offers a Victorian Horrors theater program around Halloween, letting guests traipse through the 1889 house and enjoy ghostly tales.

96. Golf: Where else can you partake nearly year-round without baking (don't tell me it's a dry heat, Arizona) or drowning (hello, humid Florida)? And with nearly to choose from, you might even be able to find a tee time.

97. The Olympics: Denver is the only city in the country to reject the Winter Olympics (in 1976), giving us the right to gloat over by doing so (sorry, Montreal).

98. : With the Arkansas River flowing 956 feet below, it remains America’s highest suspension bridge. The bridge spans 1,260 feet and features 1,257 wooden planks.

99. Fickle weather:  A day in May begins with bright sunshine and warms up to 80 degrees. Eight hours later, it's snowing. Two days later, it's 80 degrees.

100. The : The man-made ice-climbing park sits in a spectacular natural gorge just outside Ouray. The free, public park is home to more than 150 named ice and mixed climbs and draws adventurers from around the world.

101. DCPA: The is a downtown treasure hosting Broadway touring plays, Tony Award-winning theater, classical music, ballet and operas.

102. Aspens: Monarch Pass? Kenosha Pass? Independence Pass? Guanella Pass? Does it matter? With aspen glittering golden against cobalt-blue skies, autumn in Colorado is magical.

103. Enstrom toffee: Based in Grand Junction, but found throughout the state, the almond toffee is the star of the show for , a business that dates to 1929 and is still family-run.

104. : The urban oasis features native and exotic plants and trees, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the Mordecai Children's Garden and outdoor concerts in the summer.

105. Eldorado Canyon: Just south of Boulder, is a mecca for rock climbers. For others, hiking along scenic South Boulder Creek and stopping for a picnic works just fine.

106. : Nestled at the base of the Flatirons in Boulder, Chautauqua is a national historic landmark that includes Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1898. From the Chautauqua Trailhead, hikers can access 40 miles of trails.

107.  Apres ski: The after-ski bliss begins with taking off the boots, then gathering at a lodge, bar, or restaurant to unwind and exaggerate your most epic run of the day. A hot tub session is optional.

108. : At the top of Lookout Mountain, just west of Denver, is the Buffalo Bill museum and gravesite. The popular tourist attraction tells the story of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, star of his Wild West Show that began in 1882.

105. : Though not as famous as Mesa Verde, the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument is a precious time capsule. Sitting just outside of Dolores, it consists of nearly 200,000 acres and features the largest concentration of archaeological dig sites and Ancestral Puebloan ruins in the United States.

106. : Boulder's pedestrian mall features restaurants, shops, flowers, street artists, and people watching. It's about as Boulder as it gets.

107. : Gold and silver first brought people rushing to these mountain towns as they gambled on their future. Now people gamble in the casinos.

110. Hiking is more than just a walk in the park: From a half-mile stroll atop Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park to a 10-mile trek deep into the wilderness, hiking is Colorado's religion.

111. Indoor rock climbing: For those who need their fix, there are rock-walled gyms throughout Colorado. Climb on!

112. : Robert Redford's beloved festival will make its Boulder debut Jan. 21-31, 2027, after beating out Utah and Ohio to become the event's next host. Sundance is moving from its longtime home in Park City, Utah.

113. : The famed adobe restaurant opened in February 1963, specializing in what founder Sam Arnold called “New Foods of the Old West.” The building was inspired by a drawing of Bent¶¶Òőap Old Fort, the famous fur-trading post on the Santa Fe Trail.

114. Golden retrievers: We love our dogs. Labrador retrievers, bulldogs, hunting dogs, even "little yippers." But according to , golden retrievers are Colorado's most popular breed.

115. and Rodeo: In late August through Labor Day, Pueblo hosts rodeos, carnival rides, agricultural competitions, big-name concerts, monster trucks, fine art, and food, drink and Western and Hispanic culture.

116. Strawberry Park Hot Springs: Thermal pools, unique stone masonry in the Rockies near Steamboat Springs. Famously, clothing is optional after dark, so minors are not permitted after sundown.

117. Craft beer. OK, so the latest heyday of craft beer in Colorado -- which started with Boulder Brewing Company in 1979 and was popularized by the Wynkoop in LoDo in 1988 -- may have passed, but local breweries are often still the social and economic hubs of their neighborhoods -- and still employ thousands of people and bring people from around the world to the state.

118. Marijuana legalization: Even if you don't partake, it's kind of awesome that Colorado was the .

119. The Denver City and County Building at the holidays: The tradition of kicking off the holiday season in Denver by lighting up the City and County Building dates back to 1918, which brings us to ...

120. ... the fact that colored outdoor Christmas lights were invented by in 1914, as a way to bring cheer to his ailing son.

From Jolly Ranchers and cheeseburgers to teddy bears and tampons, these inventions were created in Colorado

121: Parades: Sure, we have organized marches for Memorial Day, St. Patrick's Day, PrideFest, and MLK Day, but smaller parades are a hoot, like Goldens in Golden and the Fourth of July parades that small towns like Salida, Frisco and Florence hold each year. (Watching little kids scramble for candy tossed off of a 1950s firetruck and saluting veterans in uniform strolling behind will make you proud to be an American, and perhaps long for a more innocent time.)

122. Naked skiing: The , started at Glenwood Springs' Sunlight Mountain Resort in 2021, invites women -- and only women or nonbinary individuals (there were 700 of them in 2025) -- includes a run in which participants are invited to ski or snowboard sans clothes. Brrrr.

123. Free concerts: in Ruby Hill Park produces more than 50 free concerts at its outdoor amphitheater every summer. And stake out a spot early with your picnic basket for one (or all) of the 10 free concerts at . (Which leads us to ... )

124. Jazz live: Who says it's a dying art form? Colorado is home to the Winter Park Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, Denver Jazz Fest, Evergreen Jazz Festival, UNC-Greeley Jazz Festival and Jazz Aspen Snowmass. (Which leads us to ... )

125. and : These two music venues in Denver offer stellar performances by some of the most acclaimed jazz artists in the country in intimate settings.

124. Colorado's culinary chops: abound here, from Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson (Frasca); Erika and Kelly Whitaker (The Wolf's Tailor); Caroline Glover (Annette); Matt Vawter (Rootstalk); Johnny Curiel (Alma Fonda Fina); Alex Seidel (Fruition); Troy Guard (TAG); and Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja). Eat up.

125. : In the summer, take a ride to the top of the Continental Divide, where you will be treated to 360-degree views of five mountain ranges.

126. The Denver Nuggets: They may not always win, but boy, these guys have heart -- and the best basketball player in the world in Nikola Jokic. And an NBA title in 2023.

127. The Colorado Avalanche: Three Stanley Cup titles and a roster of Hall of Famers for a rabid fan base.

128. The Denver Broncos: Eight Super Bowl appearances. Three Super Bowl wins. John Elway. Peyton Manning. Floyd Little. Orange Crush. Football as religion since 1960.

129. The Rapids: Fans have been getting their kicks from the pro soccer team since 1996. The Rapids won their only MLS Cup in 2010, their second MLS Cup appearance.

130: : Crazy for women's soccer? Colorado sure is. On March 28, Summit FC set the U.S. attendance record for a women’s professional sporting event at Empower Field, with 63,004 fans on hand to witness the club’s inaugural home match against the Washington Spirit.

131. The Colorado Rockies: "Rocktober" took the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, but the LoDo ballclub usually struggles. But a summer night at Coors Field with a beer and a hot dog has been a great combo since 1995.

132. Sandhill cranes: Each spring and fall, thousands of the long-necked birds during migration. Every March, there's even a party to celebrate them, in the form of the .

133. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center: There's a pool, gyms, an indoor shooting range, velodrome (track) and more at the Colorado Springs site. And are available.

134. Four-wheeling on Imogene Pass: A rugged and scary former mining road that connected Telluride and Ouray in the San Juan. Mountains. Thrill-seekers top out at 13,114 feet.

135. , not just the marathon: Playboy Magazine once called Colfax Avenue the “longest, wickedest street in America.” Jack Kerouac wrote about Colfax in his novel "On the Road." Music venues, bars, restaurants, shops, and interesting people-watching. Colfax has a thriving live music scene with The Fillmore, The Ogden Theater, The Lion’s Lair and many more bars serving up live music as well. The Colfax Renaissance is well underway. Come check it out!

136. Running around Wash Park: From fit singles scouting out other fit singles, to fit seniors just looking to stay fit, the 2.5-mile crushed-gravel outer loop in South Denver is a runner's mecca.

137. The name: Colorado's lyrical name has its origins in Spanish, as the word for "colored red." So very apropos.

138. Race to open by Memorial Day: The highest continuous paved road in the United States to 12,183 feet through Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. The goal is for snowplows to clear the road by late May. It doesn't always work out.

139. Olathe sweet corn: Iowans may try to argue, but one bite of this variety will have you longing for several ears, slathered with butter and a touch of salt. (And it freezes well off the cob, as well; save some for your holiday casseroles.)

140. : The heart and soul of Denver, where it got its start between 14th and 15th in the late 1800s. Named for the pioneering General William Larimer, it was the city’s first block, its first commercial district, home to its first residence and first city hall, and was the city’s first designated historic district.

141. : At the peak of elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park -- typically mid-September through mid-October, you might hear the bulls' loud bugling. Researchers say the animals call out as a warning, or to communicate with their harems. The sound will haunt you.

142. Same-sex marriage: Colorado has offered civil unions since 2013 and they have been legally recognized here since October 2014. They weren't established as a until June 26, 2015.

143. Denver Press Club: The in the United States, founded in 1867, and the building itself was designated a Historic Landmark in 1986. Stop in and toast Damon Runyon at the bar.

144. Georgetown and the : A charming ride on this narrow-gauge railroad (called "an engineering marvel" after its construction in 1884) takes you through a scenic path over the Devil's Gate Bridge. Afterward, stroll the quaint streets of historic Georgetown, once the center of the mining industry in Colorado.

145. Pulitzer winners: The Denver Post (nine), Rocky Mountain News (four), and Colorado Springs Gazette (one) have been in reporting, photography and editorial cartooning.

146. Nobel winners: Colorado is home to , including CU Boulder's David Wineland (in physics, 2012); John Hall (physics, 2012), and Thomas Cech (chemistry, 1989).

147. Authors: Dozens of accomplished , including Gonzo journalist and author Hunter Thompson; Jon Krakauer ("Into Thin Air"); Jack Kerouac ("On the Road"); Peter Heller ("The Dog Stars"); Allen Ginsberg (Beat poet); Stephen White (Alan Gregory thrillers); Blake Crouch ("Dark Matter); and Kent Haruf ("Plainsong").

148. Root Shoot Whiskey: The Loveland-based Root Shoot Spirits’ American Single Malt Whiskey was named Whiskey of the Year  in this year's London Spirits Competition. That's in the world.

149. Horseback riding: Fans of "Yellowstone" with visions of Western cowboys on horseback are in luck: will let you come out and saddle up. Cowboy hats optional.

150. Well, you live here. Duh.

Denver Post staffer Barbara Ellis contributed to this report. 

Officials announced on Wednesday that Sundance will bring more competition categories, expanded filmmaker talks and bring back the New Frontier, a showcase for experimental storytelling, when the festival moves to Boulder in January.

Festival organizers are also developing ticket options aimed at Colorado residents and students, though they have not said whether that will mean discounts, reserved tickets, lower-cost passes or another system.

“Everyone is invited to this festival,” Sundance Film Festival Director Eugene Hernandez said in a Tuesday interview. “My biggest concern is that people won’t realize that it¶¶Òőap open to them.”

Ticket and pass details are expected to be announced in September. Passes and packages go on sale in October, followed by the film lineup in December and individual film tickets in early January.

Hernandez said Sundance is still fine-tuning its approach for its first year in Colorado after hearing from Boulder residents and students about the importance of keeping the festival within reach. Since in March of 2025, festival staff have appeared at community events, public activations and local film industry gatherings across the city.

“We’re hearing that, and we’re listening,” Hernandez said. “When we announce it in a few weeks, you’ll see that we’ve really been listening to the questions, the advocacy, the ideas and creativity around how we can structure this.”

Local access is also influencing how films and events will be scheduled through the final weekend, Hernandez said. The opening days of Sundance tend to draw the largest crowds of distributors, publicists and film professionals, but the festival will continue screening movies after much of that contingent heads out of town.

The 2027 festival will run Jan. 21-31. World premieres will be concentrated during the first six days, with additional screenings continuing through the final weekend. Online screenings will be available nationwide from Jan. 28-31.

Hernandez said Boulder audiences will play an important role for filmmakers showing their work publicly for the first time.

“The vast majority of films we show at our festival have never played anywhere to anyone,” Hernandez said. “These artists are bringing these films for the very first time to get an opportunity to engage an audience.”

Some people in the room may be deciding whether to buy and release a film. Others are watching, staying for the question-and-answer session and giving the filmmaker a first sense of how the work lands outside an editing room.

Hernandez said he believes Boulder audiences are well suited to that exchange.

“What I’ve seen firsthand in watching movies or experiencing other arts and culture in Boulder is — the audience is open, the audience is curious, the audience is willing to engage and get into a conversation and dig deeper,” Hernandez said. “That¶¶Òőap what our artists are looking for.”

For those attending in Boulder, the biggest programming change of the nearly 50-year-old iconic festival is an expansion of Sundance’s four central competition categories.

The U.S. Dramatic, U.S. Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic and World Cinema Documentary sections will each grow from 10 films presented in 2026 to 12 screened in 2027. Together, those sections will increase from 40 films to a total of 48 films, a 20% jump.

Translated from festival language, the four sections cover new American and international fiction films and documentaries. Many films arrive at the festival without a distributor and are screened for the first time for public audiences, critics and potential buyers.

For filmmakers, the eight additional slots mean eight more chances to land one of the most closely watched invitations in independent film. A strong Sundance showing can help a movie find a distributor, generate reviews and reach audiences well beyond the festival.

The expansion does not necessarily mean the entire Boulder festival will be larger than past editions. Sundance screened 90 feature films in 2026, 88 in 2025 and 82 in 2024. Before the pandemic, its lineups were considerably larger, with 128 feature films screening in 2020. Sundance has not announced the total number of films planned to screen in Boulder in  2027.

Other Sundance film sections will also expand. “Premieres” generally include new work from established filmmakers and recognizable actors. “NEXT” focuses on lower-budget movies that experiment with how stories are told. “Midnight” is where horror, thrillers and some of the festival’s stranger offerings tend to live. “Family Matinee” is built for audiences of all ages.

Boulder audiences will also have options beyond sitting through feature films.

Sundance is expanding “Offscreen,” its umbrella for public talks and events involving filmmakers, actors, writers and other guests.

“Offscreen” includes “Cinema CafĂ©,” which pairs festival guests for informal conversations, followed by audience questions. The “Big Conversation” uses films as a starting point for broader discussions about art, politics, science and cultural change. “Power of Story” focuses on how stories are made and what happens after they enter the world.

All three of these components will return in Boulder, joined by live podcast recordings and other events. Sundance has not yet announced the speakers, podcast titles or where the programs will be held.

“New Frontier” will also return after a two-year pause under the new name “New Frontier FLUX.”

First launched in 2007, “New Frontier” is Sundance’s showcase for experimental storytelling that stretches beyond a traditional moviegoing setting. Past editions have included virtual-reality experiences, interactive projects, multimedia installations and performances combining film, visual art and technology.

Sundance said ”țŽÇłÜ±ô»ć±đ°ù’s history of experimentation and exploration made the city a fitting home for the revived program. Organizers have not announced where “New Frontier FLUX” will take place, what it will include or how the new version will differ from the program that went on pause.

The festival update also included two developments intended to give international filmmakers more attention after their films leave Boulder.

For the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics, known as FIPRESCI, will convene a jury at Sundance. Its critics will recognize a first-time fiction filmmaker and a first-time documentary filmmaker from the festival’s international competitions.

The organization sends critics’ juries to major festivals around the world. Its name may not mean much to someone scanning the Sundance schedule for a good Friday-night movie, but a FIPRESCI prize can help a small international film draw reviews, distributors and invitations from other festivals.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also designated Sundance as a qualifying festival for the International Feature Film category at the Oscars.

The winners of Sundance’s World Cinema Grand Jury Prizes for fiction and documentary films will automatically qualify for Academy Award consideration. That does not guarantee a nomination. It gives the winners a direct route into the race rather than leaving them entirely dependent on a country’s national selection process.

Sundance is already working with Boulder filmmaker and Boulder County Film Commissioner Bruce Borowsky, the commission’s Schmoozer networking series, CU Boulder student groups and other organizations involved in film production around the state.

More partnerships will be announced, Hernandez said, though he did not identify a Colorado film section, internship or other formal program for local filmmakers.

The festival will operate across a roughly two-mile area that includes CU Boulder auditoriums, the Boulder Theater, eTown Hall, the Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library, Chautauqua Auditorium, the Dairy Arts Center, Boulder High School and Casey Middle School. Cinemark Century Boulder will host screenings reserved for critics and film-industry attendees.

The compact venue map does not necessarily translate into a compact trip for everyone attending. Sundance’s lodging portal includes hotels and rentals outside of Boulder, and the festival is telling some visitors they may stay in Denver or surrounding communities and commute.

Organizers have pointed to existing regional buses connecting Boulder with Denver and Denver International Airport. They have not released detailed plans for festival shuttles, late-night service or the trip facing someone whose final screening ends long after dinner.

Sundance also expects to work with more than 2,000 volunteers. Applications open Aug. 31.

“We’re planting and laying the foundation for a festival that will exist in Colorado for at least a decade, hopefully longer,” Hernandez said. “This is the beginning of an ongoing relationship.”

A statement from the Sundance Institute released om Wednesday reads: “We’re upholding the values of our founder, Robert Redford, and building a Festival that will introduce artists and their work to new audiences, uplifting the next wave of independent storytelling, and connecting with our passionate global community and the Coloradans joining us in building our Festival’s new home.”

The festival aims to retain as many of its long-term, returning volunteers as possible while recruiting new volunteers, including Boulder County and Colorado locals.

“Many people come back year after year to volunteer because of the community,” said Harrison DeVoe, Sundance’s administrator for volunteer resources. “It¶¶Òőap a really passionate group of people who have a shared mission and love to see films and see how the films take life post-festival, too.”

The rewards and benefits of volunteering at Sundance are high. organizers said. Volunteers can expect access to film screenings and waitlist tickets based on their hours of service and commitment level. The festival also hosts volunteer-exclusive screenings and events, while offering complimentary Sundance gear and meal vouchers for restaurants across the state.

The roles a volunteer can hold across the Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 festival are wide and varied. They can assist at theaters by ushering or scanning tickets, or they can help artists and filmmakers get where they need to go. Volunteers assist in everything from running events and panels to preparing technology to shoveling snow.

But becoming a Sundance volunteer does require a significant time commitment. Volunteers can choose two options: assigned schedules or sign-up schedules. Within assigned schedules, there are options to become a full festival volunteer or a half festival volunteer. Full festival volunteer roles cover the duration of the festival, or roughly one shift every day of the festival from opening night to the final cleanup. Half festival roles are for people looking to experience part of the festival, and they have a requirement of six to eight shifts. A volunteer shift at Sundance is a nearly all-day role, with most shifts being six to eight hours long.

Becoming a sign-up volunteer is the most flexible option, allowing people to sign up for a few shifts that work for their schedule, especially if they have work or family obligations. The requirement for sign-up volunteers is to complete 24 hours of service, or four shifts, whichever comes first. That is the lowest time commitment option available for Sundance volunteers. Because it is such a large time commitment, DeVoe encourages people to on the website before they apply to understand the expectations and requirements.

“Volunteers are the backbone of the festival,” DeVoe said. “We quite literally wouldn’t be able to host the event without our volunteer support.”

Sundance won’t know how many returning volunteers will come to Boulder until applications are submitted, but the festival is looking to bring in a solid returning group, DeVoe said. The festival will also prioritize accepting local volunteers and people who already have lodging secured for the festival. Most volunteers who are traveling in from out of state will need to secure their own housing, but Sundance does provide some hotel rooms for some volunteers in management or leadership roles.

Anyone interested can apply; no specific skill sets are required. The volunteer application will open Aug. 31 and will be available online at . Applicants can note any experience or skills they have, in addition to the types of roles they’re interested in.

“We ask a lot of different questions to gauge the volunteers’ skill sets and their backgrounds,” DeVoe said.

Sundance receives a lot of interest every year, and unfortunately, it can’t bring in everyone who applies, DeVoe said. It can be competitive. Sundance typically gets thousands of applications every year, knowing they have 2,000 volunteer roles to fill.

Many volunteers come back year after year, and some volunteers have been around since the festival started. Across the board, the volunteers come from wide and varied backgrounds, DeVoe said. Some are active in the film industry as filmmakers, producers and actors, but many volunteers are unaffiliated with the film industry and work as teachers or doctors, for example. During last year’s festival, Sundance had volunteers from all 50 states and more than 21 countries.

DeVoe said he’s excited to see how the volunteer program will take shape in Boulder.

“We’re really excited to open our application (on Aug. 31) and see the response from the Colorado community and see who applies,” DeVoe said.

.

“Audiences on every sofa and in every movie (theater) seat would feel the impact of this unlawful merger,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the case, said in a news conference from Los Angeles. He said the deal would result in higher prices, fewer movies and TV shows and lower quality of content overall.

A Paramount-Warner combo would bring together two of Hollywood’s last five legacy studios. It would also mean putting Warner’s HBO Max, libraries filled with cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and even CNN under the same roof of Paramount-owned CBS and the Paramount+ streaming service.

In Monday’s complaint, the states said such a tie-up would also “inflict substantial harm” on movie theatres and basic cable distributors. Bonta’s office said the states are asking Warner and Paramount to not close this merger “until after the judicial process concludes.” And if the companies do not agree, the coalition would then file a temporary restraining order.

Paramount said Monday’s lawsuit “distorts settled antitrust law” and maintained that its merger would instead create a “stronger competitor against dominant streaming and technology platforms who have harmed the market for theatrical exhibition and jobs in the entertainment industry.”

The company, which was bought by Skydance just last year, vowed to “vigorously defend” the transaction.

Warner deferred to Paramount for comment. Beyond California and Colorado, states joining Monday’s lawsuit include Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.

“More concentration in motion picture production and in the cable network sectors threatens harm to consumers and to a robust marketplace of ideas,” Colorado Attorney General Weiser said in a statement. “As Colorado welcomes the Sundance Film Festival next year, we are acutely aware that preserving competition in the motion picture industry will help ensure the distribution of a wide variety of the best films to movie theatres.”

Where Paramount¶¶Òőap takeover of Warner stands

Monday’s antitrust case arrives at a pivotal time for the Paramount-Warner transaction — which, after months of what became a very public bidding war with Netflix, received shareholders’ stamp of approval in April and then a blessing from President Donald Trump’s administration just last month.

The companies have hoped to close their deal sometime in the third quarter of this year, recently signaling an effort to complete the process in the coming weeks. The states’ lawsuit could throw a wrench in those plans, at least for now.

The clock is ticking. Paramount also pledged to give shareholders some compensation if that process isn’t complete by Sept. 30 — in the form of a 25-cent per share “ticking fee” for every quarter past that date. And it¶¶Òőap agreed to a regulatory termination fee of $7 billion.

Beyond the U.S., Paramount has touted additional regulatory clearances it says it¶¶Òőap received in a handful of other countries, including China, Canada and Australia. Meanwhile, other reviews remain in progress, including in the European Union and the U.K. — which has separately suggested it may intervene.

Including debt, Paramount¶¶Òőap proposed purchase of Warner is valued at nearly $111 billion (or $31 per share) based on current outstanding shares.

Critics decry merger

Warner and Paramount argue that merging will be good for growth in the industry and give consumers access to more content, especially if HBO Max and Paramount+ libraries are combined. But critics have decried what further consolidation could mean in an industry already controlled by just a few major players.

Monday’s lawsuit from the states pointed to movies that make their way into theaters and the wider TV landscape — noting that a combined Paramount-Warner could control nearly a third of both the theatrical film distribution market as well as basic cable programming.

Such a combination would create “a massive company with unprecedented power and influence over news and entertainment across the globe,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is among those challenging the deal. Beyond consumer impacts, she also said the merger would “put jobs and businesses nationwide at risk.”

Thousands of actors, directors, writers and other industry professionals have already voiced “unequivocal opposition” to the deal. Monday’s challenge garnered applause from groups like the Writers Guild of America, who warn that consolidation would result in “fewer jobs, lower wages for entertainment workers, less variety of programming, and higher prices for consumers”

Paramount argued on Monday that delaying the merger “will only harm entertainment workers who have already suffered over recent years as technology has disrupted their livelihood.”

The company added that the states’ case would “shield” larger streaming rivals like Netflix from meaningful competition.

Political questions

Throughout Paramount¶¶Òőap quest for Warner, questions of political influence have also piled up — with criticism falling largely along party lines in Washington. No Republicans signed on to the states’ case on Monday.

Democrats have long expressed skepticism about whether regulators working under Trump would scrutinize the deal as heavily. Several attorneys general joining Monday’s lawsuit took aim at the Justice Department¶¶Òőap decision to not challenge the deal — pointing in particular to the president¶¶Òőap close relationship with the billionaire family of Paramount CEO David Ellison.

“Something happened and perhaps that something had to do with a mega-billionaire named Ellison,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told reporters on Monday. “We are seeing more and more instances where the Trump DOJ is just rolling over for corporate consolidation,” she added.

Last month, DOJ leadership released a lengthy statement in support of the deal — maintaining a Paramount-Warner combo would “increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers.” The Justice Department had maintained that politics would not play a role in its review.

Trump himself previously made public comments about Warner’s future, despite backpedaling on what he once suggested his personal role would be in approving a merger.

Many eyes are on CNN, a network that has long attracted ire from Trump and his allies.

Paramount¶¶Òőap CBS has already seen significant turmoil and shifts in editorial leadership since coming under Skydance ownership last year — and if Warner merger goes through, the reach of that could grow. Several Trump administration officials have also been far from shy from sharing their hopes for CNN under Paramount ownership, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling reporters in March that “the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”

The parent organization of the Sundance Film Festival this week shared details about the titles appearing at Film on the Rocks, Boulder Creek Fest, and other major events as part of its co-sponsorship with various local programmers.

The movies offer “early opportunities for Colorado audiences to connect with (Sundance’s) legacy of independent storytelling through film, music, and poetry,” Sundance officials said.

“When we decided to move the festival to Colorado we also made the decision to host all of our pre-festival events in partnership with local organizations,” said Eugene Hernandez, festival director and head of public programming at Sundance, in a Thursday email to The Denver Post. “Because we felt like it was not only the right way to show up in partnership and in collaboration with the Colorado community but also it would be an opportunity to get to know the community better, get to know the arts organizations who we met during the search process.”

Sundance officials have spent many days in Colorado over the last couple of years as they scoped out Boulder for the fest’s new home. Hernandez said these summer co-presentations are a natural extension of that research and exploration, and that events will arrive monthly until the festival debuts in January.

“We will continue to create opportunities to engage local audiences in Boulder and throughout Colorado, whether it’s a screening or a talk or a workshop or an opportunity to get to know the audience better,” Hernandez said. “So we’re looking for the right opportunities. It could be a screening, it could be something else.”

Hernandez has been coming to Colorado since his first screening at Telluride Film Festival (“Brokeback Mountain,” which he watched twice in one weekend) and counts SeriesFest and the Denver Film Festival among his favorite events.

He was gratified to be welcomed to Colorado by other festival organizers, he said, including Boulder International Film Festival founders Kathy and Robin Beeck.

“There is already a well-cultivated arts scene here so to be invited in with such warmth, and to contribute to the creative alchemy here — it is really exciting for us,” he said. “We want audiences in Boulder, Denver and across Colorado to join us in person in January and each month as we countdown to the festival.”

Summer screenings for the Sundance co-presentations include “Andrea Gibson: Love Letter from the Afterlife,” a 20th anniversary celebration of “Little Miss Sunshine” in partnership with Denver Film’s Film on the Rocks, “Napoleon Dynamite” at the Boulder Creek Festival, “The Best Summer” at Outside Days, and “BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions” in collaboration with Biennial of the Americas, MATTER and MCA Denver, according to the festival’s new agency of record for Colorado, Bloomerang PR. The agency was launched in January by PR and film-fest veteran Jenny Bloom.

The Sundance Film Festival is the independent movie world’s most important event in the U.S. It’s moving to Boulder from Park City, Utah, after a 42-year run there and is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in tax revenue to town during an otherwise quiet season, state economic development officials have said.

Details for each screening are below.

Boulder Creek Festival: “Napoleon Dynamite”
Screening of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival alumni feature
Saturday, May 23 at The Green in Boulder
Film Start: 7 p.m.

“BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions”
Screening of the 2025 SFF alumni feature
In partnership with Biennial of the Americas, MATTER and MCA Denver
Friday, May 29
Holiday Theater in Denver
Social: 5:30 p.m. | Film Start: 7:00 p.m.

Outside Days: “The Best Summer”
Screening of 2026 SFF alumni feature
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Auraria Campus King Center in Denver
Film Start: 2:00 p.m.

Sundance Film Festival Presents: “Andrea Gibson: Love Letter from the Afterlife”
Featuring the Colorado Symphony, Megan Falley, and special guests Sara Bareilles and Chris Pureka
In association with AEG
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison
Doors: 6:30 p.m. | Event Start: 7:30 p.m.

Film on the Rocks: “Little Miss Sunshine”
Screening of 2006 SFF alumni feature
In partnership with Denver Film
Monday, July 13, 2026
Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison
Doors: 6:30 p.m. | Pre-show: 7 p.m. | Film: 8:30 p.m.

For the 2026 schedule of Sundance Film Festival lead-up events, ticketing, and to sign up for the official Colorado email list for updates visit .

The season begins Monday, June 8, with Reiner’s 1987 fantasy-comedy classic “The Princess Bride” and ends Monday, Aug. 10, with 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” according to Denver Film; see the full list below.

The movie series, programmed by the nonprofit that runs the Denver Film Festival, will again feature five films, with $25 tickets per screening (the same price as last year) and $50 for VIP reserved seating near the front of the amphitheater. Group sales are available by contacting boxoffice@denverfilm.org.

Tickets are on sale now for Denver Film members, and to the public starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 1, via .

The biggest locally relevant show is the 20th anniversary celebration of “Little Miss Sunshine,” the 2006 indie hit that won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay (by Michael Arndt) and Best Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin). The quirky family dramedy featured a now-iconic soundtrack by Denver’s gypsy-punk-folk-mariachi act DeVotchKa, and having that band play the 20th anniversary seems like a fitting tribute to the title that helped turn DeVotchKa into an international touring force. (It’s also a notable collaboration between Denver Film and the Sundance Film Festival, which makes its Boulder debut in January.)

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment taking the stage at 7 p.m., followed by the film presentation at 8:30 p.m., according to Denver Film. As in recent years, all screenings will be emceed by local comedian and actor Janae Burris. Pre-show entertainment includes musical performances by School of Rock, The Reminders, Wheelchair Sports Camp, DeVotchKa and May Be Fern, as well as a special presentation by paleontologist and National Geographic Explorer Tyler Lyson, Denver Film said.

See full details, including Denver Film synopses and each show’s openers, below.

Film on the Rocks 2026 season

“The Princess Bride”
8:30 p.m. Monday, June 8

“In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing. Featuring a pre-show performance by School of Rock.”

“Sinners”
8 p.m. Monday, June 22

“Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. Featuring a pre-show performance by The Reminders.”

“Little Miss Sunshine” 20th Anniversary
8:30 p.m. Monday, July 13

“Father Richard (Greg Kinnear) is desperately trying to sell his motivational success program… with no success. Meanwhile, “pro-honesty” mom Sheryl (Toni Collette) lends support to her eccentric family, including her depressed brother (Steve Carell), fresh out of the hospital after being jilted by his lover. Then there are the younger Hoovers – the seven-year-old, would-be beauty queen Olive (Abigail Breslin) and Dwayne (Paul Dano), a Nietzsche-reading teen who has taken a vow of silence. Topping off the family is the foul-mouthed grandfather (Alan Arkin), whose outrageous behavior recently got him evicted from his retirement home. When Olive is invited to compete in the “Little Miss Sunshine” pageant in far-off California, the family piles into their rusted-out VW bus to rally behind her – with riotously funny results. Featuring a pre-show opening performance by Wheelchair Sports Camp, followed by headliner DeVotchKa.”

“Bridesmaids” 15th Anniversary
8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3

“Annie’s (Kristen Wiig) life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke,  Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love. Featuring a pre-show performance by May Be Fern.”

“Jurassic Park”
8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10

“In Steven Spielberg’s massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt. Featuring a pre-show presentation by Paleontologist and National Geographic Explorer Tyler Lyson.”