Can You Attend SXSW Without a Badge?
And some of the best films from this year's festival...
by Drew Marshall
SXSW just held its 38th edition in Austin, Texas. The annual festival has grown to include tech, film, music, and comedy. The last time I was there was in 2012, and it was a totally different era of both the festival and my life. This time, I was in Austin for movies rather than music.
SXSW Film is looser than other fests at this scale. There is a good selection of old and modern theaters in Austin. The moderators are generally relaxed and openly engaged with the audience. It’s a great place to debut work outside of the LA and NY bubble. It feels like a festival for the people. Laid back and easy going.
Except, it’s expensive. The tech side of the festival has taken over as the main driver of SXSW. The cost of a badge is well over $1,000 now, which is nuts. If you are a younger or an emerging filmmaker, that figure is probably cost-prohibitive. But what I’m here to tell you is: You can and should go without a badge.
Here’s how to do it…
Travel and accommodations
It’s always best to get the essentials out of the way. Flights to Austin are surprisingly cheap. As for places to stay, booking and sharing a hotel room with friends is a good idea. Reach out to people you know in Austin who might be able to put you up. If you’re looking to connect with local film heads, check out Hyperreal Film Club. They have a Discord for members.
Getting around
It’s easy to walk most places in Austin, or hop in an Uber or Lyft if need be. A lot of people gravitate to those app-based scooters, but I hear they can also add up. The move for me was using the electric bike stands around Austin. It worked out to $11 for the entire week (month even!) for as many 45 minute rides as I wanted. Felt great to rip around on them too.
Food and substance
Beware of over-consuming BBQ. It’s incredible in Austin, yes, but after so many meals it can get a little heavy on the system. I’m a fan of Royal Blue Grocery on Congress, which also operates as a Malaysian noodle place, a welcome change of pace. Overall, between the tacos, BBQ, beer, etc., it’s probably a good idea to savor greens or stock up on juices when you get the chance.
Getting into movies
SXSW is really not set up for the non-pass holders. There are a series of badges and associated priorities to get into the movies. They do have an affordable wristband option that comes in around $150, which gives a person secondary access. That’s probably a safe bet for most screenings. However I did not do that.
What I did probably won’t work for everyone. I pitched this guide, and once I knew I was going to write it, I had an in to email publicists and filmmakers. That pretty much covered me the rest of the way. (Thank you to all the publicists who hooked it up last minute!) In some cases, it might not be worth a publicist’s while or they might only have a few tickets to dish out. But ultimately, PR reps want bums in seats, and if you’re willing to cover the movie in some way (got a Letterboxd following?), you might have an in there. But there were other ins I found without a badge, too…
Friends
Friends are the best, right? I was super lucky to get hooked up through a friend for one of the screenings. Over the last couple years, more friends and acquaintances are getting shown at festivals. Maybe (likely) that’s more of a reflection of being at these festivals and getting to know the world better, but it’s a cool and special thing to witness.
Tickets
The absolute last resort is buying an individual ticket. It’s the lowest of the low, the back of the line. This doesn’t even work for most screenings. SXSW really does not prioritize individual tickets to their screenings or events. In fact, they don’t even go on sale until the week of the festival.
That said, it’s always worth showing up, especially if you go in with the understanding you may not get in. Sometimes you might not even have to pay at all. That happened for me and a couple other people in line on my last night at SXSW. It was a surprising and warm moment, and a good reflection of the spirit of the festival, which is most embodied by the hundreds of volunteers working at the doors.
And with that, here’s what I saw at SXSW this year…
The Python Hunt
This immersive documentary centers around an annual state-sponsored competition to catch and kill invasive Burmese Pythons in the Everglades region of Florida. Xander Robin (Lance Lizardi, Chillin Island) and his team of dedicated filmmakers venture out into the night alongside a wild cast of python hunters. They discover a bizarre undercurrent of Americana culture along the way. The documentary offers a maximal flair that stays true to the exotic madness of the bizarre expedition while also honouring the calm presence of the snakes themselves.
Dead Lover
“Me goodness, these poor lost souls stuck inside a tomb, at least they can have a go with the worms squiggling inside they bits, no one’s there to stop them from having a bit fun ‘eh?”
These are the types of made-up sentences ringing through my head after seeing the incredible sophomore leap by director-writer-star Grace Glowicki. Dead Lover is a low-budget, play-style feature film about a stinky gravedigger looking for love. I admit bias as a fellow Canadian, but it was a glorious and silly affair to watch these character actors embrace a world of horny despair from the inside of a graveyard. Coming soon to a theatre near you.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
The Canadian momentum was carried forward by comedic savants Matt Johnson and Jay MacCarrol. Hot on the heels of the success of Blackberry, the Government of Canada agreed to fund whatever they had in mind, no questions asked. And so they went all-in to produce what might amount to the most epic Toronto movie ever made in a no holding back, full-on assault of IP copyrights and civil obedience. For those familiar with the web series from 2008, the pursuit to secure a gig at Rivoli is still alive and well here.
The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick
That might be the first time I’ve remembered how to say the full name (actually, missed a word). This was a cool movie, gotta say I’m impressed with Pete Ohs, his approach to filmmaking — and perhaps even life. There is a genuine commitment to discovering the unexpected in his work. The film itself is about a friend needing escape from the city and making their way upstate where they slowly find themselves in a familiar yet unsettling world. I was excited to see Callie Hernandez on screen, who plays an Australian woman — props to her for that choice. Callie moved upstate for a year to make as many movies with friends as possible, and we’re now seeing the fruits of that decision. The spirit of taking a leap of faith really stood out in this film.
Zodiac Killer Project
Zodiac Killer Project is an investigative documentary interested in looking at itself and navigating around limitations. British filmmaker Charlie Shackleton intended to make a film about the Zodiac Killer using the book written by the main detective tracing the case as his main source. Things went awry when the family of the now deceased detective decided to hold back the rights, leaving Charlie to reimagine his approach to the film and subject matter. This one hit very hard for me. I was exhausted and was attempting to basically meditate the entire movie. And holy shit, I was entranced. It’s like an onion of layers, each one peeling back a different element of a story that couldn’t be made, and a new one emerging before our very eyes. A great commitment to self-reflexive cinema coupled with incredible art direction and sound design throughout. I was very much down for the ride.
Other random tips
Follow your gut on films. Discovering new stuff is part of the joy of being at festivals.
Savor the moment you meet or see a friend, you might not get to see them again.
Daytime screenings and bigger theaters help increase the odds of getting in.
Prioritize going to screenings with Q&As happenings at the end. There is almost always an after party following the premiere, and it’s usually close to the theater! If you don’t know anyone involved, hang around front afterwards, and you will likely get ushered in the right direction. The after parties and standing around end up being the best ways to meet and get to know people at festivals. It’s all part of the experience, anyone can do it, including you!
Drew Marshall is a cultural worker engaged with independent music, film, and art scenes over the last 20 years. He’s passionate about non-fiction narratives, eventized cinema production and self-inquiry exploration. Drew is currently based in Victoria, BC. He has served as a director at Eternal Family.
Listings
Madeline Miller is a Music Supervisor in New York looking to build credits, happy to work with low to no budget. If you have room in your budget for licensed music, I'm happy for it to go there! Available for shorts, features, commercial work. Doesn't have to be NY based. Also available to assist other Supervisors with clearances. Check out daylightsupervision.com, or email me at madeline@daylightsupervision.com.
Rooftop Films is hiring a Print Traffic Coordinator to assist the production of its 29th Summer Series and special events, coordinating with film teams/external print traffic coordinators, securing on-time receipt of media, editing, and managing files. Seasonal position, April to early June. Apply at rooftopfilms.com/jobs.
Sophia de Baun is looking for artist looking 30/40 year-olds to be part of a birthday party scene for a short film either on Friday April 18 or Saturday April 19. Email sophiadebaun@gmail.com.
Works and Process is accepting applications from NYC-based movement artists for week-long, fully-funded residencies to develop new or existing projects. For eligibility criteria and app details, visit worksandprocess.org/residencies. Deadline April 22.
Mudslide, a short film produced by Bre Thomas, is casting for the roles of Sam (Female, 25 - 35, Black) and Jesse (Female, 18 - 25, white). Shooting outside of Seattle in May. Open to anyone in U.S. Paid + travel. No acting experience required. Email stellatompkindscasting@gmail.com for more info.
Max Cea (me, yes, hi!) just finished principal photography on The Big Game, a feature he was a producer on. He is back in NY and open to work.
No Film School recently published a massive list of spring film grants, labs, and fellowships. Check it out here.
Eli Barry is looking for work. Eli is a media production pro specializing in visual media and content, including work at Marvel Entertainment. He has produced award-winning short films, music videos, and commercial content. Email me@elijahbarry.com.
Aaron Schoonover is a Casting Director available for your short or indie feature. Able to cast remotely out of various hubs. Flex rate sliding scale for all budgets. Experience casting on studio projects and super indie projects! Email schoonovercasting@gmail.com.
Applications are open for the Jerome NYC Film Production Grant. Deadline is April 3. Supports NYC-based early career filmmakers working in short or long form, experimental, narrative, animation, doc, or any combination of genres. Up to $30K available.
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