SXSW is fucking expensive - particularly the film festival. I don't know, maybe its worth upwards of $1,000 to see a bunch of tech panels or attend a few concerts, but to see some movies, that seems a little excessive. I can pay twelve bucks to see those movies when they hit theaters. Luckily, there's a better way to attend the film festival without spending half a paycheck.
The smarter, less-publicized approach is to buy single tickets to each film screening for $15 a piece. As a local film buff who wasn't able to take off from work, this option appealed to me. Here are some tips on how to make the most of the festival without forking over a four-figure sum to Big Lanyard.
1. Avoid the Big Studio Films
It seems like a cool idea to be part of the first audience to ever see Ready Player One or Isle of Dogs, but you'll be able to see those movies two weeks later, and you won't have to wait in line for three hours. You could see two movies in the time it takes you to wait in line and see a big studio premiere. The more likely scenario is that you'll wait in line for hours and still not get in. Some douchebag with a platinum badge will show up fifteen minutes before the film starts and take the last seat. Don't get caught up in the hype of these big screenings. See some smaller films that you may not have a chance to see again.
2. Target the Larger Venues
If you're buying a single ticket, everyone with a badge or wristband gets access to the screening before you do. This means that you are the least likely person there to actually get a seat. Therefore, your best odds are at the larger theaters. The Paramount Theatre has 1,100 seats. That's a lot of fucking seats for a movie theater. I've been to dozens of screenings there, and I've never seen the place completely full. If it's not a big studio release like the ones mentioned above, you'll probably get in. The Stateside Theatre next door has 298 seats, which is still large for a movie theater. I got into 5 of the 8 films I tried to see there.
Don't even think about trying to see anything at any of the Alamo Drafthouse locations. Those theaters are tiny in comparison, and you will not get in without a priority access badge.
3. Leave Downtown
The Austin Film Society hosted a bunch of screenings as the SXSW satellite location. It's located 10-20 minutes north of downtown, depending on traffic. Because it's so far from the rest of the festival, it's really easy to get into the screenings there. I hung out there for a day and saw three movies without any trouble. It's also a really cool theater that plays indie movies and old classics throughout the year, so you should check it out anyway.
4. Bum an Interactive or Music Badge Off Someone Who's Not Using It
The film festival lasted from March 9th - March 17th this year. The interactive festival lasted from the 9th to the 13th, and the music festival lasted from the 12th to the 18th. Interactive and music badges give you secondary access to film screenings. This doesn't really help your chance of getting into screenings, but it does reduce the cost from $15 to $0. A friend gave me his interactive badge when he was done with it, and I was able to attend four screenings for free. Yes, the badge has the purchaser's name and picture on it, but the festival volunteers don't pay attention to that.
These four strategies worked pretty well for me. I was able to see thirteen films and was only turned away from three. Check out my ranking of those thirteen films here. Four of the screenings were free with the interactive badge, and two were free because the staff randomly decided not to charge me. So in total, I paid $105. I'm pretty happy with that. If you have any tips for navigating SXSW or any other film festival, let me know in the comments.
Michael Dixon is a mild mannered accountant by day and a mild mannered movie watcher by night. He will not do your taxes for you. He lives in Austin, Texas with his lovely television and collection of fine whiskies. You can't purchase his book anywhere because it doesn't exist.
The smarter, less-publicized approach is to buy single tickets to each film screening for $15 a piece. As a local film buff who wasn't able to take off from work, this option appealed to me. Here are some tips on how to make the most of the festival without forking over a four-figure sum to Big Lanyard.
1. Avoid the Big Studio Films
It seems like a cool idea to be part of the first audience to ever see Ready Player One or Isle of Dogs, but you'll be able to see those movies two weeks later, and you won't have to wait in line for three hours. You could see two movies in the time it takes you to wait in line and see a big studio premiere. The more likely scenario is that you'll wait in line for hours and still not get in. Some douchebag with a platinum badge will show up fifteen minutes before the film starts and take the last seat. Don't get caught up in the hype of these big screenings. See some smaller films that you may not have a chance to see again.
2. Target the Larger Venues
If you're buying a single ticket, everyone with a badge or wristband gets access to the screening before you do. This means that you are the least likely person there to actually get a seat. Therefore, your best odds are at the larger theaters. The Paramount Theatre has 1,100 seats. That's a lot of fucking seats for a movie theater. I've been to dozens of screenings there, and I've never seen the place completely full. If it's not a big studio release like the ones mentioned above, you'll probably get in. The Stateside Theatre next door has 298 seats, which is still large for a movie theater. I got into 5 of the 8 films I tried to see there.
Don't even think about trying to see anything at any of the Alamo Drafthouse locations. Those theaters are tiny in comparison, and you will not get in without a priority access badge.
3. Leave Downtown
The Austin Film Society hosted a bunch of screenings as the SXSW satellite location. It's located 10-20 minutes north of downtown, depending on traffic. Because it's so far from the rest of the festival, it's really easy to get into the screenings there. I hung out there for a day and saw three movies without any trouble. It's also a really cool theater that plays indie movies and old classics throughout the year, so you should check it out anyway.
4. Bum an Interactive or Music Badge Off Someone Who's Not Using It
The film festival lasted from March 9th - March 17th this year. The interactive festival lasted from the 9th to the 13th, and the music festival lasted from the 12th to the 18th. Interactive and music badges give you secondary access to film screenings. This doesn't really help your chance of getting into screenings, but it does reduce the cost from $15 to $0. A friend gave me his interactive badge when he was done with it, and I was able to attend four screenings for free. Yes, the badge has the purchaser's name and picture on it, but the festival volunteers don't pay attention to that.
These four strategies worked pretty well for me. I was able to see thirteen films and was only turned away from three. Check out my ranking of those thirteen films here. Four of the screenings were free with the interactive badge, and two were free because the staff randomly decided not to charge me. So in total, I paid $105. I'm pretty happy with that. If you have any tips for navigating SXSW or any other film festival, let me know in the comments.
Michael Dixon is a mild mannered accountant by day and a mild mannered movie watcher by night. He will not do your taxes for you. He lives in Austin, Texas with his lovely television and collection of fine whiskies. You can't purchase his book anywhere because it doesn't exist.
I have a light fear of crowds, so I mostly avoided SXSW when attending UT. I did go in 2006, though, when I was in high school. We stuck with the downtown theaters due to not being able to get around (I didn't have a car; not that that would have helped at the time!)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite screenings were at the Paramount - one of my favorite film experiences of my life is seeing an unfinished cut of Knocked Up at the Paramount with a completely full crowd. We had some sort of third-level pass (somewhere between a badge and buying single tickets - not sure if they still have that option) so we barely got in and were at the tip-top. Still, seeing a comedy with such a receptive crowd will be something I'll never forget.
Which theater did you go to in #3?
Hey man, thanks for commenting! I love the Paramount. Last summer I worked downtown, and I went there a couple times a week after work for their summer classic film series. I saw a bunch of old movies like Taxi Driver, 2001, and Citizen Kane. It's a great theater for any movie, but the red curtain and the intricate, classic design make it especially great for old movies.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting to hear about your experience seeing Knocked Up. I read an article recently that said Seth Rogen really appreciates SXSW because it's the only festival that takes comedy seriously. I imagine his experience with that screening influenced his decision to premiere The Disaster Artist there last year.
It sounds like you probably had a wristband in 2006. Wristbands only get access after everyone with a badge but before single tickets. I'm not sure exactly what that costs, but I know it's more than just paying for single tickets (at least in 2018). I saw almost no one at a film screening with a wristband this year, so they didn't really provide any benefit over buying single tickets.
The theater I mentioned in #3 above is the Austin Film Society theater in north Austin at 35 and 290. It's only been open for a year or so. Richard Linklater is an owner, and he shows up to introduce screenings on occasion. They only have two screens, but they show lots of great movies there with a focus on indie movies, foreign films, and documentaries. They also have their own beer brewed by Pinthouse Pizza that you can't get anywhere else. You should check it out next time you're in town.