Sundance Film Festival 2023 to bring back in-person screenings after two years

Next year's event will have a hybrid format

The digital offering of the Sundance Film Festival will provide an on-demand, curated selection of feature films. Photo: Invision / AP, File

Organisers of the Sundance Film Festival have announced initial details of the hybrid event for 2023, which will have a combination of in-person and online screenings.

Next year's event is designed "with the priority of bringing the Sundance community back together in theatres", the organisation said.

It comes after the world-famous film festival was forced online last year and again at the last minute earlier this year.

The festival, which takes place in Park City, Utah, will run from January 19 to 29.

In-person screenings will begin from January 19 and take place until the festival's conclusion, with the digital showcase available from January 24.

The digital offering will provide an on-demand, curated selection of feature films from the 2023 festival, including all competition titles as well as work across other sections of the feature film programme, alongside episodic work and short films.

All attendees will be asked to wear masks in festival spaces and encouraged to test before and during the event.

"We are excited to bring the Sundance community together for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, a celebration of independent filmmaking," said Joana Vicente, chief executive of the Sundance Institute.

"After two years of being apart, our priority is reuniting in person, while still sharing bold new films with audiences across the country through online access.

"We've designed this year's festival based on our learnings from previous years — embracing the traditions that have been meaningful in the past, while also looking toward accessibility for audiences and expanding the platform we provide our storytellers."

Submissions for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival are now open.

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