The 2026 Sundance film festival in Park City, Utah, has been marked by a palpable tension between celebration and protest, as attendees grapple with the grim news of recent events in Minnesota. The festival, known for its progressive leanings and politically charged documentaries, found itself in a state of cognitive dissonance, with glamorous premieres and parties juxtaposed against urgent calls for action against government cruelty.
A Conflicted Mood Lingers Over the Festival
As the festival kicked off, the mood was quickly overshadowed by the spread of distressing news. On Saturday morning, director Ava DuVernay addressed an audience at a panel on freedom of expression, highlighting the shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. This incident, along with the earlier killing of Renee Good, a mother of three, by ICE on January 7th, sent shockwaves through the festival community.
Many attendees had seen the footage and contradictory statements from federal officials, as well as protests sweeping Minneapolis in response to the Trump administration's deployment of 3,000 agents in an immigration crackdown. The outrage was further fueled by an incident involving Florida congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who revealed he was punched at a Main Street party by a man threatening deportation under Trump.
Stars Speak Out Amid the Glamour
Despite the festive atmosphere, several high-profile figures used their platform to voice their concerns. Olivia Wilde, at the premiere of her film The Invite, wore an 'ICE Out' pin and expressed her dismay, stating, "The world is hurting right now, and this country is hurting. And it's appalling." Her co-star Edward Norton echoed this sentiment, noting the difficulty of discussing movies while "an illegal army is being mounted against US citizens."
Jenna Ortega, at the premiere of The Gallerist, shared similar ambivalence, remarking on the challenge of celebrating film amidst such ugliness. However, compared to the swift Hollywood backlash during the first Trump administration, the response at Sundance seemed more scattered and obligatory, with many events remaining apolitical zones.
Protests and Political Activism at Sundance
Sundance has a long history of political engagement, often serving as a platform for activism. This year, in-person protests were less populated than in previous editions, but anti-ICE signs and slogans dotted Main Street. On Sunday evening, about 100 people, including actor Elijah Wood, gathered for a "Sundancers Melt ICE" rally. Wood emphasized the festival's role in bringing people together, stating, "We're not divided here; we're coming together."
A larger march occurred on Monday afternoon, with attendees carrying "RESIST" banners and chanting "Abolish ICE!" This followed traditions from past festivals, such as the 2024 pro-Palestinian protest that shut down Main Street and the 2017 Women's March during Trump's inauguration.
Discussions in Panels and Screenings
Beyond the protests, conversations about the turmoil played out in private discussions, panels, and screening Q&As. Film-maker Kogonada, at a screening of his film Zi, acknowledged the events in Minnesota and stressed the importance of cinema as an "empathizing machine" to counter global darkness. At the premiere of Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, festival head Eugene Hernandez alluded to Pretti's murder, prompting Rushdie to reflect on the timeliness of his film in an era of rising violence.
References to authoritarianism permeated the festival, with Rushdie noting, "for the authoritarian, culture is the enemy," and panels like "Democracy On the Screen – And On The Line" and "The New McCarthyism: Why Authoritarians Fear Storytellers" delving into political themes. Films such as The Friend's House Is Here, an Iranian work made in secret from the Islamic regime, highlighted these issues.
The Show Goes On Amid Uncertainty
Despite the tense atmosphere, the festival continued with its schedule of premieres and events. Natalie Portman, star of The Gallerist, captured the bittersweet mood, telling Variety, "It's really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE... But also, there's a beautiful community that Americans are showing right now." She added that it was a moment to celebrate artistic achievements against the backdrop of a nation in pain.
As Sundance prepares to relocate to Boulder, Colorado next year, this edition in red-state Utah has underscored the festival's enduring role as a space where art and activism intersect, even as attendees navigate the complexities of celebrating film in troubled times.
