Slamdance 2027 is confirmed for Los Angeles, February 18 to 24, 2027. It will be the festival’s third edition in L.A. since it left Park City, Utah, and its 33rd overall. The lineup will be picked entirely from open submissions by a panel of Slamdance alumni.
Slamdance started in 1995 with filmmakers whose work did not get into Sundance, and its mantra is still “By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers.” Venues and passes for 2027 have not been announced. Here is what is confirmed, plus how the 2026 edition worked, as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Thursday, February 18, through Wednesday, February 24, 2027 |
| Where | Los Angeles. 2027 venues not yet announced |
| Edition | 33rd |
| Program | First features, breakout features, shorts, episodes, the Unstoppable program, and DIG (digital, interactive, and gaming) |
| Passes | 2027 passes not yet on sale; 2026 festival passes sold out |
| Awards | Oscar, BAFTA, and Canadian Screen Award qualifying in select short and feature categories |
| Official site | slamdance.com |
What’s screening
The 2027 lineup has not been announced. Filmmakers hear back by December 17, 2026. Slamdance programs low-budget narrative and documentary first features (debut features with budgets under $1 million), Breakouts from directors who are past their first feature, shorts across narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental, episodic work, a 99 Special category, and DIG.
Unstoppable is its showcase of work by filmmakers with visible and non-visible disabilities, programmed by disabled artists. The festival also runs Polytechnic, a free education program of workshops and panels.
How 2026 went
The 32nd festival in 2026 screened 141 films, including 50 world premieres, chosen from 10,000 submissions. Slamdance says attendance grew 10% over 2025 and nearly every screening and event sold out. The Feature Grand Jury Prizes went to Whisperings of the Moon, Silver, Zumeca, and You Look Fine, and J. Snow’s You Look Fine also received a theatrical distribution offer from Utopia.
Alumni worth name-dropping
Slamdance’s list of alumni who first showed work at the festival includes Christopher Nolan, Bong Joon Ho, Sean Baker, Rian Johnson, Ari Aster, the Russo Brothers, Jon M. Chu, Lena Dunham, and Steven Soderbergh. The Russos now back the AGBO Fellowship, a mentorship award given at the festival.
Passes and tickets
2027 passes and ticket prices have not been posted. In 2026, festival passes sold out and virtual passes were offered. Slamdance’s pass terms, posted for its current passes, are worth knowing:
- A pass is not a seat. Pass holders still need a ticket for each screening, reserved at the box office, in the Slamdance app, or at slamdance.com.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early with both your pass and ticket. A valid ticket guarantees a seat if you arrive before showtime.
- No resale or transfers, and no refunds.
- Rush line: filmmaker pass holders can try the rush line for extra screenings, first come, first served.
Venues
Slamdance has not named its 2027 venues. In 2026, the festival used three main venues:
- DGA Theater, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046
- The Landmark Theatre, 8000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046
- 2220 Arts, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057
The 2026 awards ceremony was held at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.
Getting there and accessibility
Slamdance posted a detailed accessibility FAQ for 2026. Highlights:
- Buses: for the Sunset Boulevard venues, Metro lines 2, 302, 217, and 780 stop nearby, including at Sunset and Crescent Heights and Sunset and Fairfax. For 2220 Arts, Metro line 14 runs along Beverly Boulevard, with stops near Alvarado Street.
- Rail: there is no direct Metro Rail to the DGA. The FAQ suggests the B Line to Vermont/Sunset, then Bus 2 or 302 west.
- Parking: pay lots near each venue have accessible spaces. For the DGA, Day Lot 55 at 7920 Sunset Blvd., with overflow at 1468 Hayworth Ave. For the Landmark, the SP+ garage at 1457 Laurel Ave., with the most accessible spots on level P2.
- Drop-off: there is no designated drop-off zone at the DGA.
Slamdance lists an accessibility coordinator contact on its accessibility FAQ page.
Still to come
The 2027 lineup, venues, schedule, pass and ticket prices, and an updated accessibility FAQ have not been announced. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are released.
Sources
- Slamdance: About the Film Festival (2027 dates and city, award qualifications)
- Slamdance Film Festival on FilmFreeway (categories, eligibility, notification date, alumni)
- Slamdance: 2026 Award Winners (2026 stats, winners, awards venue)
- Slamdance: Accessibility FAQ (2026 venues, transit, parking)
- Slamdance: General Pass Terms and Conditions
- Slamdance: About (programs, move to Los Angeles)
- Hollywood Times: Slamdance Film Festival Slams Back to LA for 2026 (founding, 2026 passes)
Featured photo: Combatchuck4 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
