Stanley Tucci, Jesse Eisenberg headline Sundance's first Boulder gala

Driving the news: Sundance Institute announced Friday that Tucci will emcee "The Boulder Debut" gala Jan. 22 at the Limelight Boulder, while Eisenberg will take home the festival's annual Trailblazer Award.

• Director Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for "Love & Basketball" and "The Woman King," will receive the Robert Redford Luminary Award.
• Filmmakers Beth de Araújo and Dawn Porter will snag Vanguard Awards recognizing emerging talent in fiction and nonfiction filmmaking, respectively.

What they're saying: "Sundance Film Festival has played a significant role in my career for close to 40 years, and I am very happy it has found a new home in Boulder so that it might continue to champion independent film," Tucci said in a statement.

🗯️ My thought bubble: Here's hoping Tucci, whose culinary adventures have made him nearly as famous as his acting, works up an appetite for some of Boulder's acclaimed cuisine.

What's next: Sundance runs Jan. 21–31, with individual film tickets going on sale Jan. 8 at 10am.

• Don't be surprised if more Hollywood heavyweights start popping up on the guest list.