The 2025 Sundance Film Festival begins this Thursday (Jan. 23) and my email is enduring a daily barrage of PR releases announcing private screenings, afterparties, panels, chef tastings, opening night celebrations, pop-up lounges (pause for inhale), fireside chats, live performances, and celebrity appearances. All that is to say—there’s a hell of a lot to do up at Park City these next two weeks. So if you’re looking for an activity once you’ve finished up your film screenings, I thought I’d put my besieged inbox to good use. Here you’ll find a list of ways to go beyond the screen at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Official Beyond Film Lineup
Sundance’s Beyond Film programming allows festival goers and cinephiles to interact with their favorite filmmakers. This year’s programming includes four distinct categories: Power of Story (the only ticketed Beyond Film event), Cinema Cafe presented by Audible, Film Church and The Big Conversations. Various participants and special guests expected this year include Olivia Coleman (Jimpa), Steven Yeun (Bubble & Squeak), Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), Cristina Costantini (SALLY) and more.
“We are thrilled to announce the Beyond Film lineup for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival,” said Kim Yutani, Director of Programming. “The conversations at these events further amplify the ways in which our audiences can engage with the themes and ideas within this year’s Festival Program. We look forward to featuring the inspiring voices of filmmakers, artists, and politicians to connect even more with audiences.” These events take place at the Film Maker Lodge, are free to attend, and are seated on a first-come first-serve basis.
New to the 2025 Sundance Festival, hosts Elijah Wood (Rabbit Trap), and Daniel Noah (Rabbit Trap) will record a live episode of their podcast Visitations featuring special guests.
Find the full Beyond Film schedule here.
Panels and Official Partnered Events
Throughout the next two weeks, Sundance goers can attend panels and events presented by festival partners like Adobe, ACLU, Acura, The Redford Center and more. Highlights include an empowering discussion on storytelling as a tool for social change presented by ACLU—ACLU & Storytelling: Driving Change in Uncertain Times. At the ACURA House of Energy, a mainstay of the festival, a combination of free and invite-only events bring together industry leaders, up-and-coming artists and consumer audiences. Their opening panel on Friday features a diverse panel of producers sharing their views on everything form sustainability to utilizing AI. Other panel highlights from the ACURA house include “Spotlight on Trans Stories and Storytellers,” Women of the World: How Female Filmmakers are Shifting Global Cinema,” and “Better Together: Mapping Gender Allyship in 2025 and Beyond.” All ACURA events take place at their House of Energy, fine more info here.
Find more partnered events from mini workout classes to tips for first-time filmmakers, here!
Parties, Pop-Ups and Lounges
Half the fun of attending Sundance in-person is rubbing shoulders with fellow film buffs and celebs at parties. Unsurprisingly, many of the festivals most sought-after celebration are invite-only, but there are a few experiences that are open to attend, or require a request to RSVP. The Audible Listening Lodge invites all attendees to relax on their roof-top lounge with a free beverage and light bites. Feel free to wander around and listen to some of their most lauded projects inside listening gondolas. (Kimball Terrace, 675 Main Street). Chase invites Sapphire cardmembers to attend their various panels and music performances at their Sapphire Lounge located at 660 Main Street. Program highlights include Friday’s panel for By Design with participants Juliette Lewis, Robin Tunney, Samantha Mathis and more. On Saturday, Jan. 25, the lounge will host a panel with Train Dream‘s cast and director, and the following Sunday will invite Kiss of the Spider Woman‘s Jennifer Lopez and Bill Condon for a discussion.
Of course, Park City has plenty of live music offerings and post-midnight screening DJ sets to go around. Insomniac’s High Altitude Event Series is taking over the Marquis throughout the festival—featuring EDM moguls like RL Grime, Seven Lions, Illenium and Loud Luxury. Find tickets and schedule here. On a more exclusive level, Tao Group has reprised their Park City popup this year. The invite-only club is hosting two events on Jan. 24 and the 25th with musical guests TYGA and more unannounced special guests. Access is limited, but VIP reservations may still be available via email at taiparkcity@taogroup.com. For those averse to the “untz untz” genre, The Cabin on Main Street is hosting a variety of live musical acts throughout the festival, from folk instrumental to country. Tickets available at thecabinparkcity.com.
A few more Sundance nightlife special mentions: The Pendry is hosting a live music series at the base of the mountain from Jan. 23—Feb. 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring tunes, comfort food and cocktails. Head up to their rooftop where the The Pool House Bar & Grill is serving up panoramic mountain, raw bar items and bubbles. Another on-mountain experience; Deer Valley’s newly opened Chute Eleven has just announced their Slopeside Sets. The intimate DJ sets combine top-tier entertainment with elevated apres bites, musical acts over Sundance include Austin Millz, Wuki, Honeyluv and Night Tales.
After all your Wasatch Back reveling, head into downtown Salt Lake City where Frame by Frame is hosting a free end-of-fest pop-up. Presented in partnership with The Blocks Art District, Utah Film Commission, Visit Salt Lake, Fice Gallery, Salt Lake City and Sundance Film Festival, the event will feature live DJ sets, art installations, live screen printing and more. Head to www.theblocksslc.com/framebyframe for more information
Eat Your Way Through Park City
There’s just something about sitting through a world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival that rouses your appetite. Of course, Park City has never been lacking in the dining department. Festival goers should expect an explosion of activity in the mountain town, and many restaurants fill up quickly with reservations. To make your dining experience that much easier, we’ve compiled a list of Park City hotspots serving up delectable meals all festival long.
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