Sundance Spotlight Turns to Healthcare as Rachel Strauss Premieres Side Effects May Include
Sundance has always been the place where bold stories find their moment, and in 2026, one of the festival’s most talked about private screenings brought a different kind of urgency to Main Street.
At Kemo Sabe, the iconic Park City hotspot, healthcare advocate Rachel Strauss, known nationally as the PBM Princess, was honored with a star filled red carpet evening and an exclusive screening of her documentary, Side Effects May Include.
The event drew notable guests including Brandi Glanville, Jon Gosselin, Meredith Marks, Tom Welling, and others, all showing support for Strauss and her mission to expose the realities behind prescription drug pricing and the pharmacy benefit system shaping patient access across the United States. Strauss has worked closely with individuals navigating complex medical challenges, including Glanville and Gosselin, who have both credited her guidance throughout their own health journeys.
The night centered on Strauss’ film, Side Effects May Include: The Hidden Costs of Prescription Drugs, a documentary that examined how medications are priced, covered, denied, and delivered, often leaving patients caught between life saving care and financial strain.
Introducing the screening, Strauss delivered a message that landed with the room.
“Healthcare in America isn’t broken, it’s working exactly how it’s designed, which is not in the patient’s best interest,” she said. “Sadly, it’s a money making scheme.”
Following the screening, guests gathered for cocktails curated by High West Whiskey, appetizers, and a late night celebration fueled by music from DJ Jon Gosselin. Adding a signature Sundance touch, New York Times bestselling author Allie Kingsley branded custom leather straps for Kemo Sabe’s sought after cowboy hats.
The evening also recognized key partners who helped bring the event to life, including US Beacon, led by CEO Kimberly Carleson, alongside Evergreen Benefits, USR X Care, Preston Partners, Leafwell, Higginbotham, Integrated Payor Solutions, Sunstone Health, Swyft, and others.
Strauss, a pharmacy benefit expert with two decades of industry experience, founded PBM Princess, LLC to advise employers, benefit coalitions, TPAs, and lawmakers on transparency driven pharmacy programs. Her work has become a leading voice in translating a complicated healthcare system into clear, actionable understanding for the public.
With Side Effects May Include, Strauss delivered one of Sundance’s most relevant screenings, using film to challenge a system that millions depend on but few truly understand.
For more information, visit www.rachelmstrauss.com.
