The workers at Sundance Institute have formed a union.
Just a few months ahead of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the group of around 40 staffers delivered a petition to leadership asking for voluntary recognition of their decision to be represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003. Hours later, management agreed.
“The Communications Workers of America Local 9003 proudly welcomes the Sundance Institute into our union family,” Marisa Remski, president of CWA Local 9003, said in a statement Monday. “We congratulate all the talented individuals whose collective efforts have brought this historic achievement to life. This marks another step forward in strengthening solidarity, ensuring equity, and amplifying the voices of creative professionals across the industry.”
Now, workers will begin negotiating their first contract with Sundance Institute leadership. Among the priorities are equitable salary, benefits, and working conditions across departments — all of which need “necessary improvements to support the Institute’s growing scope of work,” CWA said.
“We are the staff of the Sundance Institute that are on the ground and working face-to-face with our audiences and artists,” Sara Kenrick, Coordinator, Event Operations, said in a statement of her own. “We are the most valuable voices to this organization’s purpose, and we have slowly but surely been pushed aside. We are understaffed and underpaid, and our concerns have been overlooked. If Sundance wants to continue being Sundance, they need to welcome us back to the table.”
The news comes as the Sundance Institute staff is preparing for the upcoming 2026 festival, which will be its last in Park City, Utah, after which it will settle in its new home of Boulder, Colorado, for the 2027 festival.
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