It's taboo to talk in the movies. Nothing gets a dirty look like a buzzing phone or some snickering during a tense moment. But in our silence and attention, there is plenty of communication: knowing glances, nudges, laughs... The conversation happens through actions and feelings in a way that only the shared experience of watching a film facilitates. The best part of any film, however, is to review it after and discuss the details and how it made you feel.
Katharine Wang, the Executive Director of Park City Film, understands this in a deeper sense and strives to create opportunities for her community to connect over film. A first-generation American, she went to movies often with her family. As a senior at Phillips Exeter Academy, a boarding school in New Hampshire, she took a Mysticism and Redemption class where she and her peers would watch ethereal films like 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was the first time she saw a film expressing existentialism, and she fell in love with the medium.
Locals and visitors take in a film at the Jim Santy auditorium
Wang moved to Park City with her husband in 2006, raised a family, and even started a water bottle company. Her experience living and working in Park City showed her a community that is heavily invested in the arts and isn't afraid to discuss difficult questions. That's why she and Park City Film are presenting the Park City Film Festival, October 23-25. This event will showcase unique art house films that encourage the same conversations she is so drawn to.
The Park City Film Festival
In 2026, the Sundance Film Festival screened in Park City for the final time, marking more than four decades of renowned film, filmmakers, and film enthusiasts sharing their creations in Park City. in 2027, the festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado. But Park City has never been a town that settles; it is a community driven by intentional change.
Where Sundance was an international event, Park City Film creates a community-forward event where neighbors and visitors share a close space and can continue the tradition of engaging with filmmakers. Wang says the programming "taps into the community's zeitgeist. Selected films are not only artistically excellent; they also tap into the curiosity and sense of adventure that defines our community."
Lineup: nine film blocks with 10 films (one block pairs two shorts), plus four panel discussions at Distrikt F.
Every film comes from the 2026 festival circuit and premiered at a larger festival: Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, or Mountainfilm.
Opening night will be special, featuring the directorial debut of JJ Gerber and his film The Life We Leave. Gerber grew up in Park City and majored in film at the University of Utah. Wang credits the Sundance Film Festival for inspiring his craft. This debut is a full circle moment for Park City, calling back to its roots in creativity and intention.
Other screenings will be low-key and unpretentious. The goal is to cultivate joy and connection through film. Wang and Park City Film wish to showcase high-caliber art in a way that reflects Park City's character and values, an atmosphere that takes deliberate work.
Wang notes the parallels between film and a book club. She says, "in about 90 minutes, the whole room sustains its attention together and creates a shared platform for dialogue. The best films don't spoon-feed the story. They create tension and room for connection."
According to a recent report from Variety, Gen Z is the most active movie-going audience. Whereas older generations see filmgoing as an escape from their daily routine, Gen Z sees filmgoing as a shared third space; an opportunity to connect with others.
This perfectly fits the ethos of the Park City Film Festival. Wang highlights that major streamers are instructing directors to remind their audiences multiple times where they are in the story. Audiences at home are distracted by phones, laundry, or any other thing that pulls our eyes away from the screen. By showing films in a close setting outside the home, people across generations can connect over a shared story.
Park City is a Year-Round Film Town
Park City Film launched two successful summer series in 2026: America the Beautiful and Midnight in Park City. America the Beautiful shared films outside the mainstream narrative, including LGBTQ experiences and Japanese American internment, while Midnight in Park City focused on thrillers and horror. Titles included "Natchez," "Give Me the Ball!," "Third Act," and "Buddy."
Park City Film offers year-round weekly programming in the heart of Park City
Both of these series will be back in 2027 with more in the works. And Park City Film will continue to provide weekly film programming throughout the year.
Wang says watching film in a theater is a uniquely shared experience where "you can come by yourself, but you're never alone." The small nudges, laughs, and looks of understanding lead to rich conversations that are worth making space for.
More Adventures in Park City
For even more inspiration and stories from Park City—view our year-round visitor guide or request one in the mail.
