How to Fest: The Complete Guide to Surviving South by Southwest 2015

Get that badge early

On a few occasions, I’ve made the mistake of getting my badge on the festival’s first Friday and standing in line for over three hours. It’s open all week, so beat the line and either:

1. Pick it up early Friday or any time Thursday.
2. Use the Satellite location at the Palmer Event Center.

Use SXXpress passes

These are like a fast pass for SXSW. You can pick up two per day that put you right in the front of the line, which is especially fantastic for guaranteeing entry into the smaller venues and popular films. Keep in mind that:

• A limited number are available for each screening.
• You can only get them the day of the screening.
• You must have a badge to get one.
• You have to be at the theater no later than 30 minutes before showtime.

They’re given out 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center (for a full explanation of SXSW’s line system, check out this video).

Tips on Time-Management

It may seem like a good idea, when the schedule first drops, to cram your day with back-to-back movies, panels and parties, but remember that getting from the Paramount to the Marchesa in under five minutes is close to impossible. Account for how long it’ll take to travel, when you’re going to eat (don’t let yourself crash mid-day), and—of course—the madness of walking around Austin during the craziest time of the year. Think you’ll be entirely focused on film? Don’t be so sure. Leave plenty of room for exploring the comedy, music, sports and gaming events during the festival.

If you’re staying the full week, remember that many of the films are screening up to three times throughout the week, so if it isn’t crucial to see a film with the cast and crew in attendance, spread out your schedule.

Getting around the Festival

If possible, I recommend sticking to the SXSW shuttle, pedicabs and ride-share apps. But if you absolutely have to drive and park, remember: Garages and lots are the worst. The rule of thumb with street parking is everything below 10^th is almost always paid on weekends, but everything above 10^th is free from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday (and free all day on Sundays!) so if you don’t mind walking a little, that’s a great bet.

Couldn’t get a badge? No problem!

If you couldn’t get a badge to the festival, there’s still a ton of opportunities to catch movies. You can still buy individual rush tickets for $10 at the door once they’ve seated badges and wristbands and there’s space available. While this may sound hopeless given how huge SXSW is, remember:

• There are 12 screens and tons of bands, panels and going-ons splitting everyone up.
• During the second half of the week, once the industry people have gone, most people are focused on music. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get into even the smallest venues then.
• The Paramount and Vimeo theaters are pretty safe bets during the second half of the week. Also, the satellite screens are so far out of the way that it’s almost guaranteed you’ll get in.

A final note of advice: Go big or go home. As SXSW Film’s head honcho Janet Pierson often says before the screenings she moderates, “SXSW is a festival about taking risks.” I personally don’t see the point in just seeing the Hollywood fare that’ll be in theaters next month. Don’t be afraid to take some chances. You might discover your favorite movie of the year. This happened for me in 2011 (Attack the Block), 2012 (Sleepwalk With Me) and 2013 (Zero Charisma).

What movies and panels are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! MM

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