As we mentioned previously, it is best to plan ahead and know the capacity of the Film venue where a screening is taking place, but if you want that little edge over most of the other people in line, you should know about SXXpress.

From the SXSW website:

SXXpress (South by Express) PASSES

The SXXpress Pass offers Film, Gold and Platinum Badgeholders the ability to pick up two tickets per day that allow them to go to the head of the line at specific screenings. A limited number of tickets are available the day of the screening only and must be used in combination with a registration badge.

The SXXpress pass does not guarantee you a seat, so you should still plan on arriving to the theater at least 30 minutes prior to a screening to be sure you get in. SXXpress passes will be distributed March 11-15 from 10:00 am- 5:00 pm, on the upper level of the Austin Convention Center near the Film panels rooms.

Usually the “limited number” is about 10% of the seating capacity, so for the Alamo Ritz 2, with 90 seats, only 9 SXXpress passes will be given out. Since you can only get two of these per day, make sure you pick those screenings that will be over crowded, or that you will not have time to stand in line for an hour to get in to. Make sure you get to the screening before the 30 minute mark (we’d say 45 mins. at any Alamo location), or you may lose your seat. These SXXpress passes are a hot commodity and cannot be transferred, so make sure you are in line first thing in the morning to get yours, they go fast!

As a general FYI, there are four “waves” of seating at any screening:

The Queue Card System
SXSW 2012 will continue to build on the success of the Queue Card system, first used at SXSW 2011. If you have a badge, and you want to ensure you get a seat at the State Theatre, Rollins Theater or any Alamo Theater, show up early (45 minutes -1 hour before screening time) to get a numbered Queue Card. This will ensure your admission as long as you stay in line at the venue. Basically this is a pacifier and great stress reducer. If you’ve arrived in time to receive a queue card, you’re in. This is another tool that SXSW is using to better understand available seating while folks are still in line. They use this info to update their Venue Status Boards.

Venue Status Boards

SXSW will updating large info boards at all downtown venues throughout the event with the line statuses for every screening at the festival. Here is what to look for:

GREEN means GO! Lots of seats available

YELLOW means HURRY! It’s filling up fast, so hustle.

RED means FULL! No need to try this one, it’s sold out.

Keep in mind these boards only show status for the next screening at each venue, they are useful, but remember, always have a backup plan.

So now you have you SXSW Film lineup in hand, you’ve got your “must see” list working, and you’re anxiously waiting on the Film Grid to be published. All you need to finish your master plan to dominate SXSW Film is one small detail: Can you get a seat?

SXSW Film is spread over 10 Venues and 14 screens this year, and getting from one venue to the next will be made easier by using the Film Fest Flyer, but you have to consider that as some smaller venues will fill up fast, it may require that you to get in line early to secure a seat.

To help you out, below is a list of the seating capacity of each screen, along with notes from the Baby!’s experiences in the past.

Alamo Lamar – Great Venue that serves Food at your seat, due to this, the theater is loaded as soon as it is clean and ready, sometimes as much as 45 -60 minutes prior, rather than the typical 30 minutes prior to show time.
Lamar A – 225 seats
Lamar B – 118 seats
Lamar C – 118 seats

Alamo Ritz (186 seats) Same as the Alamo Lamar, however notes that Ritz 2 is only 90 seats. If you are going to a screening here, make sure to get there about an hour to an hour and a half ahead of time if you must see the film at this location.
Ritz 1 – 186 seats
Ritz 2 – 90 seats

SXsatellite Venues: Alamo Village (150 seats)

SXsatellite Venues: Alamo Slaughter Lane (150 seats)

Canon Screening Room @ the Long Center (210 seats)

Carver Museum (210 seats)

Paramount Theatre* (1200 seats, 700 if the balcony is not opened) Some premiere events may ask that the balcony not be opened, but this is rare. Last year we saw lines circling the block but everyone got in.

Stateside (298 seats)

Vimeo Theater at the Austin Convention Center (ACC) (600 seats)

Violet Crown Cinema Note very small seating capacities. Get there early.
Screen A – 50 seats
Screen B – 39 seats

At most venues last year we saw volunteers marking the end of each line. They also kept good control on headcounts of those in line, so as you walk up, they will have a good idea of your ability to get in. that being said, ALWAYS have a backup plan, another time to see that movie, another movie to see at that time.

Remember the Rule of the Five “P’s”: Proper Planning Prevents Piss-poor Performance.

SXSW Film has expanded yet again. They are:

1.Alamo Lamar
2.Alamo Ritz
3.Canon Theater
4.Carver Center
5.Paramount Theatre
6.Stateside
7.SXsatellite Venue: Alamo Slaughter
8.SXsatellite Venue: Alamo Village
9.Vimeo Theater @ ACC
10.Violet Crown Cinema

Of this list, the new kid on the block is the Violet Crown Cinema, a locally owned and operated cinema with four screens devoted to independent, documentary and international films. It is located on the second floor at the corner of San Antonio and 2nd Streets on the west end of the 2nd Street District, above Malaga Tapas and Bar and next to La Contessa.

The film Fest Flyer (previously the SXShuttle) will go to each of these location with the exception of the SXsatellite locations.

Their announcement, along with an interactive map, can be found here.

This year Canon will be sponsoring the Film venue at the Long Center from Friday March 9th through Wednesday March 14th, thus dubbing the Rollins Theater the “Canon Imagination Screening Room” for it’s use during the festival. Again, like last year, the Film Fest Flyer (previously the Film Shuttle) will be making a stop there on it’s way down to the Alamo South Lamar.

Check out all the details here.