Guests outside the Festival Store on Main Street at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Photo: Brandon Cruz | Courtesy of The Sundance Institute

PARK CITY, Utah. — It has been said that this year will be different for the Sundance Film Festival, but a consistent factor in the event is the opportunity to connect, albeit virtually, through talks and events, film premieres, and hearing from the festival’s new director, Tabitha Jackson.

The festival says this year’s event ‘goes beyond film.’ There are numerous free talks, events, and screenings going on in the Festival Village that festival-goers can tune into even without a pass. There’s even a virtual “Main Street” with free events hosted by the festival’s sponsors. (Sorry cardmembers, no physical Chase Sapphire lounge to party in this year.)

An open-minded approach will help festival-goers get the most out of their experience with help from the “How To Fest” tab on the festival’s website. This is the one-stop-shop to figuring out how to experience Sundance virtually or at the satellite theaters set up for in-person screenings this year. Visit that webpage and find a comedic video from Boots Riley, writer, director, and Sundance Labs alumnus who walks you through what he refers to as the “world that is Sundance online.”