Support
Volunteer
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Sundance Institute. We rely on dedicated volunteers from around the world to generously devote their time and commitment to the Sundance Film Festival, our Summer Labs, and our year-round programs that support independent storytelling.
2025 Sundance Film Festival Volunteer Application Guide
2025 Volunteer Application and Onboarding Checklist: This is a step-by-step guide on how to become a Festival Volunteer! This is an easy way for applicants and confirmed volunteer to keep track of all the things that need to be completed before you get to the Festival.
2025 Volunteer Areas of Interest Catalog: This is an overview of the different teams and areas of the Festival where you could be placed as a volunteer. There are a variety of options available that could align with your interests and experience, so we encourage you to review the catalog before applying.
Lodging Assistance: If you need assistance finding and securing lodging for the Festival, we encourage you to check out our Lodging website for resources. Here you will be able to search for options that work for you and your availability.
Student Groups at the Sundance Film Festival
Each Festival, we partner with university groups to bring students to Utah and experience the Festival as a volunteer. Volunteering at the Sundance Film Festival is a great way to meet new people from all over the world, experience groundbreaking films, and learn more about the film industry.
Student groups typically volunteer in our theaters, welcoming guests and ensuring the smooth operations of our venues on site. Students will gain insight into how our Festival works exercise their customer service skills to bring people together to celebrate independent film!
If you’re interested in bringing a student group to volunteer at the Festival, we ask that you review this Student Group Information Packet and fill out the Student Group Interest Form. Feel free to reach out to us to start the conversation!
Volunteer for the Sundance Film Festival
Volunteering for the Sundance Film Festival is truly a one-of-a-kind experience! Every year, volunteers (most of whom return again and again) help create a global platform to celebrate independent film by collaborating with one another and supporting the mission behind what we do. The real benefit of volunteering isn’t the perks or even the films — it’s being part of a passionate community dedicated to supporting independent art and providing positive experiences for all.
At this time, the Volunteer Application for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival is closed. If you are wanting to volunteer for the 2026 Festival or for future opportunities, please fill out this brief interest form (linked here) to be notified when we launch the volunteer application for the 2026 Festival.
If you have any questions, please contact the Volunteer Resources Team at volunteers@sundance.org
Volunteer for the Summer Labs
At the heart of the Sundance Institute is our summer Labs program! For the Sundance Institute Directors Lab, invited up-and-coming artists (called Lab Fellows) will rehearse, shoot, and edit scenes from their screenplays under the mentorship of accomplished Creative Advisors. Surrounded by seasoned professionals, yet removed from the typical pressures of production, Lab Fellows are offered a unique opportunity to see the script “on its feet,” develop skills, and take risks.
Volunteers help the program succeed by being a part of a Fellow’s production Crew or through general support for our Admin and Operation teams. At this time, all of our applications to volunteer for the Summer Labs have closed. Please reach out to our email if you have any questions.
Contact Us
If you have questions that are not addressed above, please feel free to contact us via email volunteers@sundance.org or call the Volunteer Resources Team at (435) 776-7870. Our working hours are Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MT.