Sundance, with wave of omicron, will require testing, masks and booster shots to attend

SALT LAKE CITY –Travelers from all over the world in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, and local attendees, will have increased requirements to attend screenings and other events, festival organizers announced Thursday, including booster shots against COVID-19.

Proof of a booster will be required to attend the event in person in January, though the festival says it has been designed as a hybrid event with flexibility for participants to attend online or in person. In 2020 the festival completed its schedule just weeks before COVID-19 became a concern in Utah and the U.S., while in 2021 it was in the midst of a U.S. winter surge and much of the festival was done virtually.

The festival said of its updated health safety protocols:

We have been closely monitoring the daily developments of Omicron and continue to follow expert advice and national and local guidance. We are continuing to evaluate enhanced safety measures for onsite elements around capacity, non-film events, and food and beverages. In addition to our existing health safety measures of requiring vaccinations, mask wearing, and testing to maximize safety, today we are announcing the following policy updates for the in person Festival and sharing details on vaccine verification procedures and onsite vaccination verification and testing hub locations. (The full update can be found here.)

The policy updates cover vaccinations, masks and venue capacity. Full vaccination is required two weeks before attending, and boosters for all in-person attendees. Those meeting requirements will be provided a wristband that will be required to be worn at all times.

In the years before the pandemic the festival’s economic impact to Utah was measured at over $182 million, including $94 million in Utah wages. In pre-pandemic 2019, the festival brought approximately 43,550 out-of-state visitors to Utah spending money on food, transportation, recreation and lodging, among other things.

The festival is scheduled for Jan 20 through Jan 30 in 2022. Masks are required at all festival-operated venues and are strongly recommended other indoor public places or private shared spaces.

5 Can’t Miss Movies About Business and Tech at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival https://t.co/Un4grqaorI pic.twitter.com/zcQmwX12s9

— Montina Young ✨ ADOS (@justmontina) December 23, 2021

Theaters will operate at reduced capacity with no eating or drinking permitted in theaters. Non-theater venues will also have reduced capacity for public programming. Capacity will also be reduced for most festival-operated private events and the same health protocols will also be in place.

Sundance will also offer free testing to all participants and community members at vaccine verification and testing hubs around the festival and will encourage all participants and audience members to be test prior to arrival at the festival for community safety. Employees, volunteers, onsite contractors, artists, press and industry attendees will be required to be tested within 48 hours prior to arrival or upon arrival at the fest.

Both PCR and rapid antigen tests will be offered and accepted as proof of a COVID-19 test. Any FDA-approved with a valid date and time will be accepted.

Those planning to attend in-person in any capacity should read the full update here: sundance.org/blogs/covid-19-updates-2022-festival/

florence pugh
↳ sundance film festival (2017) pic.twitter.com/7WIRAT8poD

— florence pugh gifs (@flossiegifs) November 1, 2021

The festival has also prepared a webpage it says has “everything you need to know to navigate the in-person Sundance Film Festival, designed with your health and safety in mind.”

That includes the video above with full information found at: festival.sundance.org/howtofest/#inperson/COVID-19