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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Do any of these films sound familiar: "The Blair Witch Project," "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Napoleon Dynamite?" It's thanks to a major Utah event, the Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off today, that we even know about these films.
Each year the Sundance Film Festival selects 200 films for exhibition from more than 9,000 submissions. Almost 46,000 people attend screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. In addition to discovering filmmaking's newest talent through the Festival's program of documentary, dramatic and short films, those who attend the festival can enjoy live music, panel discussions, cutting-edge media, parties celebrating the festival community and more.
Think about the economic impact the festival has on our state. It's bringing an almost $70 million increase for Utah's gross state product, not to mention almost $6 million in state and local tax revenues. It's also adding over 1,400 jobs to the Utah economy. In the last five years, the Sundance Institute has brought over $375 million in economic activity to the state.
The Sundance Film Festival is the state's largest annual international event, bolstering tourism and attracting worldwide media attention. It's also turning the world's eyes to Utah. Between the announcement of the film program and the wrap-up articles in, Sundance Institute and the 2013 Festival generated over 31,000 print and online articles, including almost 12,000 TV pieces alone. Total publicity value from the Festival is almost $57 million.
The festival isn't just for an international audience. Over 13,000 Utahns participated in the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Utah Community programming. Through the Sundance Film Festival's two high school screening programs, the festival reached a combined 8,000 students. Programs bring students and filmmakers together for screenings and discussions on the art of filmmaking.
The Sundance Film Festival has already been highly successful with independent films, and another major category festival chair Robert Redford continues to grow is documentaries. They're getting local and national attention.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Sundance Film Festival 1- 435-776-7878 www.sundance.org
