Long before the first Sundance Film Festival debuts in Boulder, following a more than 40-year run in Utah, a small army of volunteers will already be hard at work. Approximately 1,500 volunteers help power the festival, from managing theater lines to guiding attendees navigating the bus system.
While staff spends the year laying the groundwork, volunteers provide the energy, warmth, and human connection that bring the festival to life. They are, in practice, its circulatory system, moving audiences, information, and atmosphere from room to room.
“They are the backbone of the festival,” says Brian Marquez, Sundance Institute senior manager of talent.
Starting in August, prospective volunteers can apply to join a collective that spans professions, backgrounds, and levels of film expertise.
“Our volunteers come from so many different walks of life, too,” Brian says. “They're in the film industry, they're actors, they're directors, but they're also teachers and doctors, and people who just want to give back to their community as well.”
Four-year alumni volunteer Carlo Maldonado says, “When I finally arrived, I immediately started to see the true independent heart of the festival up close. I saw how committed the institution and staff were to lifting up great stories and filmmakers.”
While volunteers don’t receive a paycheck in exchange for their time, they do receive a range of perks depending on their level of service, including the coveted Sundance Film Festival volunteer jacket, film vouchers, tickets to volunteer-only screenings and events, meal vouchers to local restaurants, and festival swag ranging from water bottles to other surprise goodies. Past years' jackets, designed by Kenneth Cole, have become something of a wearable badge of belonging.
There’s also something less tangible: entry into a recurring festival family of filmmakers, film lovers, and returning volunteers. After participating, volunteers become alumni members, receiving early festival updates, first notice of the following year’s application, and priority placement for future festivals.
“So once you start and take part in the festival, you really do become part of this community, and then every year becomes like a family reunion,” Brian says.
How to Get Involved
The volunteer application launches in August, and applicants must be at least 18 years old. Flexibility is a major asset. Roles vary widely, though not all are public-facing, and some—such as volunteering at panel venues—are highly competitive. Applicants should be specific about their availability, skills and strengths, preferred roles, volunteer background, and what they hope to gain.
After reviewing applications, coordinators reach out directly to applicants for conversations that help shape placement, walking through availability, interests, and potential roles in real time.
Both part-time and full-time opportunities are available. Part-time volunteers commit to a minimum of 23 service hours, and organizers say it’s perfectly fine to be clear about exactly which days and times you’re available.
“It really is kind of like a pick-your-own adventure,” says Harrison DeVoe, administrator of volunteer resources.
Once accepted, volunteers are paired with a volunteer coordinator and connected to team calls, orientation, scheduling support, and role-specific training.
“The Sundance Film Festival wants their volunteers in roles that they are excited about and can grow in. You’ll find friends fast and learn a lot, so there is no downside to getting involved,” says 11-year alumni Denver volunteer Colleen O’Brien.
Last year, more than half of its volunteers were alumni, a reflection of the program’s unusually strong return rate. Still, organizers hope to rally as many local volunteers as possible as the Festival begins its Boulder chapter.
“I think being around people who are all there to support independent film, whether you're volunteering or whether you're a patron and attending, it's really amazing to just see everybody kind of take that pause from their everyday lives and come together to help artists showcase these films,” Brian says.
The Sundance Film Festival runs January 21–31, 2026, and will take place in Boulder, Colorado. Visit Sundance.org/Volunteer to learn more.
“They are the backbone of the festival,” says Brian Marquez, Sundance Institute senior manager of talent.