Lovers of film and art touched down in Park City for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The theaters were filled with a vibrant energy as festival goers experienced premieres and parties with both artists, musicians, and film aficionados. Take a look below at the highlights over opening weekend.

World of Hyatt:

World of Hyatt returned to the 2025 Sundance Film Festival opening weekend as the official hotel sponsor with engaging events like: the Prime Minister Premiere party Friday night, setting the tone for an unforgettable weekend. Saturday, crowds gathered at the special Sundance edition of The Standard’s iconic Not Your Standard Bingo, followed by an electrifying DJ set by Questlove that kept the energy high. Guests enjoyed mindful moments with Peloton sessions led by Ally Love and Aditi Shah, and immersed themselves in “The Scents of Sundance,” crafted by an Aftel-trained perfumer and offered through World of Hyatt’s FIND experiences platform. The weekend concluded with cocktails and conversation at the Marc Jacobs Bookmarc party, where attendees connected with Linda Rosenkrantz, author of Peter Hujar’s Day, for a special book signing prior to the film premiere on Monday, January 27.

Additionally, presented by World of Hyatt, The Wrap Studios at Sundance hosted stars from the festival throughout the weekend, including Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Dylan O'Brien (Twinless), Dave Franco (Together) - discussing this year's films, their travel must-haves & more!

Sundance Institute Fundraising Gala:

Photo Credit: Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival

The stars aligned for this fantastic event for another annual celebration, the Sundance Institute’s fundraising gala Celebrating Sundance Institute Presented by Google TV, co-chaired by Ebs Burnough and Pat Mitchell. The evening gathered innovative storytellers and champions of independent film to honor trailblazers in the film industry. The honorees included Michelle Satter, Cynthia Erivo, James Mangold, Sean Wang, Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie. The evening closed with a surprise performance by Sara Bareilles who captivated the audience as she took to the piano delivering renditions of songs from Waitress.

Vulture Spot:

Vulture returned to Sundance Film Festival with its exclusive media studio, The Vulture Spot, which ran from January 24-27 to host video interviews with top talent from the festival’s films and capture them in its photo studio. The Vulture Spot presented a three-part, invitation-only morning event series, Vulture: In Conversation—presented by Starbucks Coffee Company and inspired by the acclaimed editorial franchise. This captivating series brought together renowned actresses Alison Brie, Rose Byrne, and Marlee Matlin for intimate discussions with Vulture's editorial team. Together, they’ll explore their remarkable careers, sharing insights and stories from their journeys in film, television, and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to bring Vulture back to Sundance, thanks to our partners, showcasing the most exciting talent for our audience, and to debut this new conversation series with a lineup of amazing women,” Tara Reilly, VP of experiential and partnerships at Vox Media shared in a statement. Guests who popped into the Vulture Spot over the weekend were able to warm up with various treats presented by the Vulture Spot partners Starbucks Coffee Company and Casamigos.

Chase Sapphire:

Chase Sapphire Reserve hosted a star-studded lineup of celebs – including Dave Franco, wearing Paul Smith, and Allison Brie, wearing Alex Perry with a Roger Vivier Bag, – as part of the “Together” cast party at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The event, which took place at the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge, included the cast, producer Erik Feig and director Michael Shanks celebrating their work.

GLAAD:

Frameline, GLAAD, and NewFest at Cheers, Queers to hold space and celebrate all things queer film at Sundance on Friday, January 24, 2025, presented in partnership with Acura and co-host IMDbPro.

“It’s more vital than ever to carve out intentional spaces where queer cinema and creators can be celebrated at Sundance Film Festival,” say Frameline, GLAAD, and NewFest in a joint statement, per Medium. “This event is not just a celebration but a reminder of the transformative power of LGBTQ storytelling to foster connection, inspire change, and elevate the diversity and complexity of our community. Our organizations are proud to unite for the second year in a row in Park City for an afternoon that uplifts queer voices and honors the incredible talent driving these stories forward.” As always, the event created a safe space to connect and highlight experiences through storytelling which is important now more than ever.

*Cover photo: Director Bill Condon, left, Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh before speaking on the “Kiss of the Spider Woman” panel at L.A. Times Talks, presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jack Dempsey for Chase)