Sundance Film Festival Announces Free Local Lens Summer Screenings in Utah

The Sundance Institute announced June 18, 2026, that the “2026 Sundance Film Festival: Local Lens” will host free movie screenings for Utah residents on July 18 and 19. The series will run at the Library Center Theatre in Park City and the Utah Film Center in Salt Lake City.

The nonprofit organization is organizing the event in collaboration with Park City Film and the Utah Film Center. According to the Sundance Institute, the series provides Utahns with free access to selected films from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before their wider release.

Eugene Hernandez, Director of Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming, stated that the series is part of the organization’s year-round programming. Hernandez said the Institute has immense gratitude for Utah audiences and intends to share groundbreaking, inspiring projects through the screenings.

Which films are included in the Local Lens series?

The program features two fiction films and two documentaries. Each film is accompanied by a Q&A session with the creators, according to the announcement.

The fiction selection includes Union County, written and directed by Adam Meeks. The film follows Cody Parsons, a man in a county-mandated drug court program struggling with recovery during the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio. The cast includes Will Poulter and Noah Centineo, and the film is distributed by Oscilloscope.

Also in the fiction category is Take Me Home, written and directed by Liz Sargent. Sargent received the 2026 Sundance Film Festival Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic for the project. The story centers on Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability who cares for her aging parents in Florida. The film is distributed by WILLA.

The documentary slate features The Lake, directed and produced by Abby Ellis. The film won the 2026 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Impact for Change. It chronicles two scientists and a political insider attempting to prevent an environmental nuclear catastrophe in Utah.

The final film is TheyDream, directed, written, and produced by William David Caballero. The project won the 2026 Sundance Film Festival NEXT Special Jury Award for Creative Expression Presented by Adobe. It depicts a filmmaker and his mother using animations to process family loss.

When and where will the screenings take place?

Screenings are split between Salt Lake City and Park City over two days. Tickets are available for reservation at sundance.org/local-lens.

The Utah Film Center, located at 375 W. 400 North in Salt Lake City, will host the following events on Saturday, July 18, 2026:

• Union County: 1 p.m.
• Take Me Home: 4 p.m.
• The Lake: 7 p.m.

The Jim Santy Auditorium at the Library Center Theatre, located at 1255 Park Ave. in Park City, will host the following events on Sunday, July 19, 2026:

• The Lake: 1 p.m.
• TheyDream: 4 p.m.
• Union County: 7 p.m.

Who supports the Sundance Institute’s community efforts?

The Utah Community Program receives funding from several public and private entities. According to the Sundance Institute, major sponsors include Adobe and Acura.

Community supporters listed by the Institute include the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Grant, the Salt Lake City Arts Council, and Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP), as well as Peggy Bergmann.

The Sundance Institute was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford. It operates as a nonprofit that provides mentorship and granting programs for independent artists. The Institute’s history includes supporting films that later achieved significant industry recognition, such as CODA, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and The Farewell.

The organization also manages Sundance Collab, a digital platform for artists to connect with advisors and share works in progress. By bringing these award-winning 2026 selections to local theaters, the Institute continues a precedent of bridging the gap between high-profile festival premieres and the local Utah community where the organization is rooted.