Pro-Palestine protest planned for 2024 Sundance Film Festival – The Hollywood Reporter
Main Street in Park City, Utah during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
A pro-Palestine protest is being planned in Park City to coincide with the Sundance Film Festival, with participants invited to join a demonstration on January 21 on Main Street.
“We invite you to come together with us to peacefully protest at the Sundance Film Festival, one of the largest independent film festivals in the world, showcasing documentaries and films that break down barriers,” said an Instagram post by Palestinian Solidarity Utah, which detailed plans for the peaceful protest. “While the bombs fall, people cannot continue to watch movies on their screens while ignoring the genocide in Gaza.”
According to social media, the event, titled “Long Live Gaza,” will see protesters arriving by shuttle bus on the main street and marching to the demonstration point at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The post continues: “Park City is home to the largest independent film festival in the United States; Tens of thousands travel around the world to attend this event. “While we do not address Sundance as a whole, we aim to let viewers and news reporters know that Utah stands with Palestine.”
The protest is not related to the Sundance Film Festival. Palestinian Solidarity of Utah noted that security at the protest will be handled by a Utah-based organization, Armed Queers of Salt Lake City. The Park City Police Department will provide security as needed.
“We have also been made aware of the demonstration and its commitment to maintaining a peaceful environment,” the Sundance Institute said in a statement. “Although the organizers are not affiliated with the festival itself, the safety and security of our festival-goers is always a concern for us, and we continually work with local law enforcement to support a welcoming, inspiring and safe environment for all of our guests and attendees.”
Calls for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and the protests surrounding the conflict have seen participation from those working in the entertainment industry since the beginning of the conflict. Several days ago, an organization called Film Workers for Palestine issued an open letter calling on “filmmakers and film workers to stand up for an end to genocide, and for a free Palestine,” according to the website. The signatories include filmmakers and performers with projects at Sundance.
