Sundance Film Festival 2020 begins this Thursday, and there is already a ton of buzz about all of the happenings that will take place in Park City, Utah during the first weekend. Sundance 2020 will have many must-see Indie films, but just as exciting are the offscreen events being put on by pioneering brands and renowned organizations. There will be A-list dinners, exciting panels with talent, relaxing lounges, networking hours, and much more!
Some must-attend, offscreen fêtes will be Pizza Hut‘s Sundance activation and Canada Goose‘s Basecamp. Below is a quick overview of some of the other most sought-after events of the first weekend, which are sure to attract many celebrities and influencers:
WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T – Jan. 24-27, 2020
As a Presenting Sponsor, the Official Wireless Provider, and the Official Multichannel Video Distributor Sponsor of Sundance 2020, AT&T will have a huge presence at the festival. AT&T and WarnerMedia are coming together for this exciting activation, taking place at Heber & Main on Main Street. The WarnerMedia Lodge will host a Festival Kickoff Party at Lateral with a performance by Matt Berninger from The National on Jan. 24th, lunches with movie talent, film premiere parties, panels, cast dinners, a pop-up culinary experience with Jon & Vinny’s Italian Restaurant, and a Variety Studio featuring interviews with actors!
Debbie Durkin’s ECOLUXE ABC Media Lounge Park City 2020 – Jan. 25, 2020
Throughout Hollywood and beyond, Debbie Durkin is renowned for being one of the top TV/Film product placement producers in the game. She is bringing her 13th ECOLUXE Lounge to Tekila in Park City, which is sure to be the weekend’s top luxury retreat for entertainment stars and influencers. THE ECOLUXE Park City 2020 Celebrity Hospitality & ABC Media Lounge is a wondrous experience that connects environmentally-friendly brands, charity causes, and the latest in health and wellness to today’s top celebrities.
This year’s lounge will be a relaxing oasis boasting delectable food service, an open bar, tasty organic beverages, a DJ, on-camera interviews with ABC4 Utah New Media Center, and insightful education about sustainability. ECOLUXE Lounge also named Lady Victoria Hervey’s international PRESERVE OUR WILD non-profit conservation organization as their Official Charity Partner. Debbie Durkin’s popular ECOLUXE “Must-Haves” TV segment will also air on ABC4 primetime “Good Things Utah”, featuring Earth-conscious brands.
ChefDance – Jan 24-27, 2020
Now in its 17th consecutive year, ChefDance is the ultimate culinary celebration for Sundance’s biggest stars and tastemakers. For five consecutive days/nights, this opulent, intimate dining series (created by Mimi Kim) will feature exquisite cuisine from globally-renowned chefs like Michelin Chef Melissa Perello and James Beard Chef Galen Zamarra, as well as surprise performances. The official charity partner for this year’s ChefDance is Future Generations Now, a community to other charitable organizations.
Saturday’s ChefDance dinner will also honor Martha Stewart with the ChefDance Legend Award. This year’s ChefDance series also partnered with Kroger, MasterCard, Postmates, Sysco, Chameleon Cold-Brew, Auberge Lodge in Blue Sky, San Pellegrino, Yellowbird Foods, SkinTē and Sugarfina. In addition to the exceptional dinners, ChefDance will put on a daytime Social Impact Lounge featuring fireside chats about the environment, food, film, and sustainability. One buzzed-about chat is Sunday’s “Zero Hunger, Zero Waste” panel (presented by Kroger Corp.), featuring a conversation with leaders in sustainability.
Canon Creative Studio – Jan 24-27, 2020
Featuring hands-on demos with Canon U.S.A., Inc.’s grade-A equipment, this activation gives festivalgoers the chance to go behind the scenes of filmmaking. Confirmed guests can check out panels with American Cinematographer and IMDBPro and get professional head shots taken by photographer Michael Ori. The Canon Creative Studio will also host “Magic Hours” with IMDBPro and Adorama Rental Co., as well as their annual “Raise Your Glass” Sunday party. Other sponsors are Stella Artois beer and High West Distillery.
Chase Sapphire on Main – Every day of the festival from 11am – 5pm MT
For the 10th consecutive year, Chase Sapphire will open Chase Sapphire on Main, which will host private panels for Sundance films like Four Good Days (on Jan. 25th) and Palm Springs (on Jan. 25th). Attendees will be able to get exclusive insight on these films from Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, and Andy Samberg! Chase Sapphire on Main will also host cast parties for much-anticipated Sundance 2020 films like Bad Hair and Wander.
The public will be able to enjoy Taste of Sapphire dishes inspired by cities around the world, refreshments, charging stations, and coffee/tea. Sapphire cardmembers will have exclusive access to yoga classes, premium drinks, beer & whiskey tastings, and select evening private cast parties. Another fantastic event at Chase Sapphire on Main will be a cooking demo with Chef Brooke Williamson, winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season 14 and the youngest female chef to ever cook at the James Beard House.
WELLHAUS – Jan. 24-27, 2020
Sundance attendees will love WELLHAUS, Park City’s first health, wellness, and CBD concept from event industry veterans Axcess Entertainment. Launched in partnership with Erba Verde Group (a premier cannabis investment and management team), WELLHAUS has partnered with three local venues to create a first-ever multi-location brand experience at Sundance: the Wellhaus Spa at the PuraVida Spa at Sky & Main Hotel, the Wellhouse Café at the Main Street Deli, and the Wellhaus Lounge at the brand-new Old Town Cellars.
Attendees will go gaga over the WELLHAUS Lounge’s fully integrated CBD-infusion cocktail bar and exciting daily experiential and hospitality activations. WELLHAUS will also host film premieres, happy hours, panel discussions on cannabis in Hollywood, and receptions. The WELLHAUS Spa will also be open each day and feature pampering treatments like massages (with CBD oil for a premium!) for VIPs and media. The WELLHAUS Cafe will also feature complimentary organic eats and tasty, acid-free Tyler’s Coffee.
WELLHAUS will also feature mind/body experiences with SEED Us Society, a coalition of impact investors and innovators who align through mission-driven projects and curated experiential, wellness events. These events aim to bring creatives, spiritualists, musicians, executives, and industry thought leaders together to steward in the for-benefit economy.
Kia Telluride Supper Suite – Jan. 25-27, 2020
Located centrally on Main Street, this pop-up by Kia Motors will host intimate dinners, film premiere parties, The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative Awards Dinner, and a curated gifting lounge for VIPs. Produced by A-List Communications, the lounge will feature exquisite eats by Marbl Toronto and superb brands like mou boots, ic!, London eyewear, Laundry, and Original Penguin. William Grant & Sons will is the official spirits partner, providing custom craft-cocktails with Glenfiddich single malt Scotch Whisky and premium spirit brands, The Balvenie Scotch, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, and Reyka Vodka.
United Talent Agency’s UTA House at Sundance, Produced by Mirrored Media
United Talent Agency‘s brand marketing division, UTA Marketing, will introduce their inaugural Sundance residency that will host exclusive programming for clients and key partners. UTA Marketing, the agency’s entertainment consulting practice that represents top global brands including Cover Girl, Delta Air Lines, General Motors, General Mills, Google, Lyft, LinkedIn, Piaggio Group, etc., is leading the agency’s programming at the private residence this year. UTA House is produced by experiential agency Mirrored Media and sponsored by Casamigos, Stella, Beyond Meat, and chef’s Jon & Vinny.
A number of festivities will take place during the weekend. There will be a discussion on food inequality and accessibility hosted by Chef JJ Johnson of Harlem’s Field Trip and Lyft’s Head of Social Impact Mike Masserman. Another fête is UTA Marketing’s annual Brand Leaders Dinner, in partnership with The Atlantic, Snap and Tastemade. UTA Client Issa Rae will also host a celebration in honor of Creators of Color, supported by UTA’s very own head of Diversity and Inclusion, Shanique Bonelli-Moore.
Sundance VIPs will also want to check out Women In Film’s Annual Sundance Reception Panel (moderated by The Atlantic editor Shirley Li) that includes filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour, Hello Sunshine CEO Sarah Harden, actress & producer Emily Mortimer, Poppy Hanks (SVP of Development of Macro) and producer Effie Brown. UTA Client Alan Ball will also put on the Uncle Frank Filmmaker Dinner. Another event is Refinery 29’s Celebration of Embrace, directed by UTA client Jessica Sanders and featuring Eddie Huang.
The house will also be home to a special art exhibition of photographs from the incredible artist Kwame Brathwaite, courtesy of UTA Fine Arts. UTA Music will be curating music throughout the weekend with DJs and a surprise special performance.
The Latinx House – Jan. 24-26, 2020
The Latinx House‘s mission is to provide a space for artists, content creators, grassroots organizers, thought leaders and other supporters to address issues that impact the Latinx community. At Sundance, The Latinx House will host brunches, parties, and panels with stars like America Ferrera and Eva Longoria. These events will have discussions about the impact of immigration policy, gender equity, economic justice and civic engagement, and the need to tell the Latinx Community’s stories through a diverse, represented lens.
Acura Festival Village – Jan. 24th – Feb. 1
For the tenth year, Acura is returning to Sundance Film Festival as a Presenting Sponsor to host the Acura Festival Village. This must-experience activation will give festivalgoers the chance to take a seat in the Acura NSX supercar, enjoy an interactive photo booth, charge their phones at convenient charging stations, and sip on tasty hot beverages, Stella Artois beer, and High West Distillery spirits. Throughout the week, Acura will also host a mix of invite-only parties, panels, and premieres for celebrities and Sundance influencers.
Adobe – Jan 23, 28, 29, 2020
Just like last year, Adobe will put on an array of events for the film industry’s top creators. On Jan. 24th, Adobe is hosting their “Empowering Every Voice in Film and the World Panel” with stand-out filmmakers at the Kimball Art Center, which will cover how one can bring their own unique voice to life. They will also host The Art of Editing Reception on Jan. 28th, which will celebrate the editing community’s remarkable work.
On Jan. 29, Adobe is partnering with Sundance Ignite, a program that identifies and supports new filmmakers (ages 18-25), for a private screening of Some Kind of Heaven at Holiday Village Cinemas. This is a must-attend event for new, up-and-coming filmmakers!
The Creative Coalition
The Creative Coalition nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance. At Sundance 2020, The Creative Coalition will host their Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner on Jan. 25th honoring Rachel Brosnahan, Julie Taymor, and Jim Gaffigan at the Kia Telluride Supper Suite. They are also hosting a fun YOung HOllywood Chillax party that day for younger entertainment stars and influencers, which is sure to be a big hit at the festival.
The Retreat Lounge – Jan. 24-26, 2020
Another popular hotspot will be “The Retreat To Benefit Project Green”, a private lounge where celebrities, media and tastemakers can enjoy music, wine and relax in between catching film screenings. Executive producers Kim Kreiss and Patryjca Siewert-Towns founded Project Green 501c3 to raise money for unending children causes. Presented by Muse Holliday, this year’s lounge features production sponsors Alive! Expo and Mix Media Entertainment, as well as brands like Twisted Cedar/CBC BevCo and JC Jewelers.
Home Business Magazine will also be attending and covering brand marketing events, film premieres, and more at Sundance 2020. Stay tuned for all the Sundance event recaps!
Contact: shannahch@gmail.com
