Cincinnati is a really cool city in a lot of ways: our growing culinary scene, our investment in arts and culture, the people. We’re also kind of a hidden gem still, but word is starting to get out, especially in the film industry. In recent years, a lot of movies have been filmed here, and now, we’ve caught the eye of the Sundance Film Festival, which is in talks of potentially moving its festival from Utah to either Boulder, Colorado, or Cincinnati.

Sure Cincinnati doesn’t have stunning mountains or a whole tourism industry built around skiing the way Park City does, but we’ve got plenty charm and other attractive features that would make us an excellent new home to this indie film festival. So, we compiled them in a list here to help convince everyone why Sundance should move to the Queen City.

Dear Sundance Film Festival Committee, please accept this as CityBeat‘s informal proposal as to why you should move your illustrious film festival to Cincinnati.

West Side/East Side Rivalry Transplants may not get it and Cincinnatians living in central and northern neighborhoods don’t care, but there’s a longstanding, all-in-good-fun “feud” between Cincinnati’s West Side and East Side. West Side, best side, amirite? But the East Side has Zip’s Cafe, so we’re torn. Just don’t forget to get your passport stamped at the border between the two (which is either I-75 or Vine Street, depending on who you ask). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
An Evening with Greg Sestero and The Room Screening 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Oh hi, Mark. Greg Sestero, star of cult-classic movie The Room — the best, worst film ever made — will be at the Esquire this weekend for a double feature. The theater will be screening Sestero’s new horror, Miracle Valley, which he wrote, directed and stars in. It’s described as being about “an obsessive photographer and his girlfriend are invited to a desert getaway in search of an ultra-rare bird.” Sestero will host a Q&A after the film. Then fans can stick around and watch The Room. $20. Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave. Clifton. Photo: Emerson Swoger
We know how to throw a big party Specifically, BLINK. Not only was the art and light festival packed with interesting installations, murals and projections that 2 million people wanted to come see, but Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky killed it in the logistics game. BLINK 2024 proved we can handle large events that span the city. And we have the amenities to support something like the festival, from our affordable hotels and short-term rentals to our variety of theaters and venues. And depending on how large the festival’s footprint is, downtown Cincinnati, Over-the-Rhine, Newport and Covington are very walkable, and the streetcar’s route stops at very popular spots within downtown and OTR. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Boca 114 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati Showcasing both Italian and French flavors, Boca has been featured on many top restaurant lists as one of the best French restaurants in the United States. Some of Boca’s menu items include the short rib tartare, beet mezzaluna and Amish chicken. There is also a variety of desserts and wine available. Reserve your table advance to ensure you can enjoy this European-style restaurant. Photo: Provided by Boca
By 2027, the Bengals might be going to the Super Bowl again Okay, this one is pure speculation, but just hear us out — the Bengals are due for a winning season. Last season was…rough…but the Bengals were pulling it together in the end! They’re on the road for a roaring comeback; we just know it. And remember 2022? Remember the energy in the city when we finally made it to the big game after three decades? It was incredible. And if the Sundance Film Festival moved here, it would be happening around the same time as the Bengals making it to the Super Bowl again. The city would literally be glowing, and who wouldn’t want in on that vibe? Touchdown, Sundance. Photo: Cincinnati Bengals media assets
You can see where the toothpicks scene in Rain Man was filmed In Rain Man, there’s a scene where Charlie (Tom Cruise) is on the phone and simultaneously snapping at a waitress to get Ray (Dustin Hoffman) some toothpicks. Frazzled, the waitress spills a box of toothpicks and Ray accurately guesses the number of toothpicks that fell out — 246 — foreshadowing his incredible calculating abilities. The scene was shot in Pompilios, an Italian restaurant in Newport, and you can still see the phone Tom Cruise used. Iconic film history right there. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Pleasant Ridge Chili & Restaurant 6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge This local multi-generational diner has been serving Cincinnati-style chili and American classics for over 50 years. They also offer chili to-go and late-night eats, like french fries topped with everything from chili to cheese to gravy. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Cincinnati has a robust craft brewing scene and something for every beer drinker If you’re a beer drinker, there’s likely a Cincinnati-made brew that you’ll love. Cincinnati is a beer town with a rich brewing heritage that has undergone a renaissance in the last decade. Numerous breweries have cropped up in that time, and heavy-hitters like Rhinegeist, MadTree, Braxton Brewing and Urban Artifact are leading the charge in crafting innovative brews. They also aren’t afraid to branch out into other beverages like ciders, hard seltzers and hard tea, and many other breweries across the city offer everything from stouts and hazy IPAs to fruited sours and mead. And did we mention there are tons of open-air spaces (a.k.a. DORAs) where you can walk around and enjoy your drink? Photo: Emily Palm
Cincinnati has a foothold in the film industry Cincinnati is a hidden gem in many ways, but we’re also no stranger to the limelight. Thanks to Film Cincinnati, Cincinnati has really become a premier spot for shooting movies, especially within the last 15 years. We’ve hosted Oscar winners like Rain Man and Traffic and stars like Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo and hometown boy George Clooney. These opportunities, big and small, have provided work for local actors and brought an economic impact of $258 million and nearly 2,000 jobs between 2019 and 2022. There are also organizations here that host their own film festivals, like the Cindependent Film Festival and the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival. We’ve been preparing for something like Sundance for a long time, and we’re ready. Photo: Bryan Houston
You can still ski at Perfect North No, Southeastern Indiana doesn’t have the same topography as Park City, but we DO have slopes — slopes that also helped train Olympic medal-winning skier Nick Goepper, thank you very much. If you’re willing to make the 40-minute drive from Cincinnati to the Lawrenceburg area, you can spend the day at Perfect North Slopes. The ski resort has 23 trails for skiing and snowboarding, including black and double-black diamond trails for experts. And if you’re not into skiing, Perfect North also has 25 lanes for tubing. Photo: facebook.com/perfectnorth
Final Friday at the Contemporary Arts Center 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 25 During regular operating hours you can take in the Contemporary Arts Center’s full gallery, but starting at 4 p.m., resident artist Cierra Fogle will participate in collaborative art-making, followed by dinner from the center’s own Fausto restaurant (reservations required). A half-hour docent tour of the CAC and 21C will then lead to an open-mic night hosted in the Creativity Center, where musicians, poets, comedians and other performers are invited to share their craft. The evening includes “an upscale cash bar and ambient art-making activities,” according to the event’s page. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 25. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. 6th St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.
You can’t find a friendlier bunch of people We’re the best ambassadors. Cincinnatians are Midwesterners, so we automatically win the nice awards, but Cincinnatians are quick to help when needed, and we’ll jump at the chance to share our favorite things about our beloved Queen City. Not to mention, our population is pretty diverse, so we have recommendations and activities for everyone. Photo: Emory Davis

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...