Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Jonathan Hickerson

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival, set for Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, might look and feel a little different this year, but one thing remains the same: It’s still about experiencing films with other fans — even when we’re apart. Despite the challenges of 2020, Sundance is set to celebrate independent film, visionary artists, unique perspectives and adventurous audiences. And for the first time ever, Sundance is bringing the festival to you — both online and in person.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 7 (Jan. 4 for members), so read on to find out how to watch this year’s live premieres, join in conversations, find in-person screenings and everything else that makes the Sundance Film Festival the can’t-miss event of the season.

TOP 10 FEST TIPS:

1. Set up an account: Before you do anything else, create a Festival account and sign the community agreement. You’ll need an account to watch and participate.
2. Check out the Festival Program Guide: Explore the entire lineup and build your schedule. Filter by category, genre, accessibility and more. You can also search to find any film, event or immersive New Frontier experience. Screenings have limited seats, so plan your itinerary and be ready to roll when tickets go on sale Jan. 7.
3. Use “My Schedule:” This tool is key to managing your festival experience. All of your tickets and scheduled screenings live in My Schedule, where you can organize your screenings, make reservations, find out what’s screening currently, access the films and start watching, track your favorites and purchases, and share your schedule with friends.
4. Buy tickets and passes: Browse the festival passes and tickets options to find what’s best for you. All films have limited “seats” and sales are first-come, first-served. All passes and tickets are available in the U.S. Only the Explorer Pass is available globally. In particular, certain categories including Feature Films, Short Films and Indie Series projects are available in the U.S. only.
5. Visit the Festival Village: Launching Jan. 7, the Festival Village is the place to go for free events, talks and sponsored experiences. From Park City’s Main Street to the festival’s Satellite Screens, catch the latest offerings from partners and collaborators. You don’t have to present to check out the Artist Lounge for creative inspiration and special events for filmmakers and creators.
6. Where to watch: You can access screenings through the My Schedule or the Festival Program Guide. Just click “watch” in either of these locations. To make sure your devices and televisions are compatible, check out the tech setup tips.
7. Satellite Screens: Wherever possible, Sundance is bringing the festival to the real world with the help of nearly 40 theaters around the country and some strict health and safety guidelines. Check the In-Person page to find screenings near you. NOTE: Tickets are sold by the satellite venues, not on the Sundance platform.
8. Talks and Events: All are free and available globally. The line-up will be posted in January, and Sundance promises plenty of surprises. All talks and events are free to attend and not subject to geoblocking. To access them, you just need to sign up for an account on the online screening platform.
9. Keep up with the buzz: Visit the Sundance Film Festival homepage for all the latest news. Check the “Happening Now” section (coming Jan. 28) for currently playing films, talks and events.
10. Don’t miss a minute! Make sure you are set up to attend a live online premiere, participate in the Q&A, watch with friends and join the conversation Every film will screen twice during the festival, and award winners will screen a third time as well. For details, visit the “How to Watch” page.

Sundance encourages all festival attendees to join in the buzz, so share the love, tag your favorites and follow all the films and artists you’ve discovered. Make connections by following the festival’s social media channels (@sundancefest, @sundanceorg, @sundance), share your festival pictures and use the hashtag #sundance on your posts. Join chat rooms, vote for audience awards and share your take with other artists and film fans, but most importantly, have fun!