PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox walked the press line for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of “Train Dreams” at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. “It’s going to be an amazing festival, 41 years of Sundance here in Utah,” Cox said. “I think this is going to be the best one ever.”

Park City and Salt Lake City are continuing to guard many of the details of the bid to retain the Sundance Film Festival in the state. But the governor of Utah and the leader of the Park City Chamber/Bureau have recently entered the scene with limited information.

Governor Spencer Cox Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Beta Technologies and 47G to potentially revolutionize travel in the Beehive State.

Utah's challengers are reportedly offering strong incentives to lure the event out of the Beehive State. Colorado lawmakers, for example, are looking to offer up to $34 million in tax incentives for a festival that sells over 100,000 tickets and brings in more than 10,000 out-of-state visitors, the Durango Herald reported.

Gov. Spencer Cox and other Utah elected officials welcomed the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Saturday night. They attended a screening of “Train Dreams" directed by Clint Bentley.

Sundance is considering three finalists for a new 10-year contract: a dual bid of Park City and Salt Lake City, Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The nonprofit announced in April 2024 it was considering a move, citing financial pressures and a lack of accessibility in Park City.

I’ve always believed festival is the right word to describe the Sundance experience. The cultural boost the festival brings to ski season is a Sundance hallmark, mirroring the artistic sophistication of our community.

“Imagine being in Moab in 40 minutes,” said Aaron Starks, president of 47G. “Imagine living in Huntsville, Utah, or Logan, where I grew up, and being able to fly to Salt Lake in 16 minutes. … That’s the reality, and it’s here.”

On Thursday morning, reporters met with Governor Cox for a monthly press conference with PBS Utah. He discussed a variety of topics

Bowen Yang, the “Wicked” actor and “Saturday Night Live” comedian, said he's in favor of having the Sundance Film Festival move to Salt Lake City, with some events remaining in Park City, rather than leave Utah entirely.

Gov. Spencer Cox delivers his 2025 State of the State address in the House chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News