CU Real Estate Forum Offers First Look at Sundance Film Festival in Boulder
Ebs听Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute鈥檚 Board of Trustees, and Paula听DuPr茅听Pesmen, managing director of Sundance Film Festival Relocation, joined John Tayer, president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, for a conversation on the festival's impact on Colorado.
Boulder stepped into the spotlight,听getting听an early preview of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival during the 2026 CU Real Estate Forum.听
The forum, hosted by the Leeds School of Business听Michael A.听Klump听Center for Real Estate听on March 5, featured a fireside chat with听Ebs听Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute鈥檚 Board of Trustees, and Paula听DuPr茅听Pesmen, managing director of Sundance Film Festival Relocation.听
An economic and cultural shift听
In a discussion moderated by John Tayer, president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, the panel detailed the festival鈥檚 2027 move and its projected impact on the local economy.听Burnough听estimated the festival had a state economic impact of $156 to $195 million in recent years.听
鈥淚 have no doubt that it should be equal, if not more, especially as we grow the audience base,鈥澨鼴urnough听said, citing Boulder鈥檚 size and ease of access compared to Park City, Utah.听
Addressing 400 commercial real estate professionals and Leeds students,听Burnough said the city should expect a surge in seasonal staff when the festival runs from Jan. 21-31, 2027.听Organizers听also project that as many as 80,000 visitors will flock to Boulder.听
Burnough听emphasized that while workforce, transportation and lodging needs and development will evolve, the move involves more than just a 10-day event. The听鈥攖he nonprofit that provides year-round support for storytellers鈥攚ill also be showing up throughout Colorado.听
鈥淲e have to figure out what long-term sustainability and synergy between the city, state, business and the institute are,鈥澨鼴urnough听said.听
One of the ways Boulder鈥檚 business听community听can听immediately听get involved is through activations鈥攂rands and companies hosting events in local spaces during the festival. The Boulder Chamber launched the听听a site connecting organizations seeking space with available commercial properties across the city.
There are also opportunities for Colorado residents to enjoy the festival.听DuPr茅听Pesmen noted that in Utah,听nearly 70%听of attendees were state residents. She expects a similar trend in Colorado, where听she鈥檚听lived for more than 30 years.听
Chad Yoshinobu,听principal and design director for Gensler, and Angela Loder, director and principal Researcher of Greening the City Consulting, discussed the neuroscience and design behind successful office spaces in the panel, "Why Place Matters: Rethinking the Role of the Office," moderated by Andrew Blaustein, executive managing director of Newmark.
鈥淚t is a treasure, and I know that our community will really embrace that and help this organization grow and thrive,鈥 she said.听
Industry and AI听
The forum also explored trending topics such as rethinking the role of the office and how AI can solve real estate problems. Themes overlapped in surprising ways.听
Panelist Chad Yoshinobu,听principal and design director for Gensler, noted that as workplaces are designed with AI and automation in mind, 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to get a little weird.鈥澨
Angela Loder, director and principal Researcher of Greening the City Consulting,听said as听AI takes on more mundane tasks,听relationships听and human creativity鈥攁nd the spaces that听facilitate听them鈥攂ecome even more important.听
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so interesting that we started this session with Sundance, because movies and art听remind us of what it means to be human,鈥 Loder said.