Austin

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Austin and know of other providers or offers in your area, please leave a comment and help us out.

General Providers

When you attend enough advanced screenings, you start to notice that the same providers keep sponsoring them. So it's in your interest to find out more about these providers.

1. Local Radio

Generally, local radio stations can give out screening passes six ways:

• Listen to win: "Our 29th caller gets tickets for two to see.."
  
• Pass pick-up: "Drop by our station office and pick up passes..."
• Expo or festival: "Stop by our booth and be sure to grab tix..."
• Follow the van: "Our wacky afternoon DJ has driven the prize van over to some local business and is giving away free hot dogs and movie passes!"
• Point system: "Join our listeners club, and when you earn enough points..."
  
• Online contests: "Enter by Monday. We'll select five winners then to attend..."

Jammin' 105.9 used to offer movie previews among its online contests. You might also try Kiss 96.7 and 98.1 KVET.

Feel free to find other local stations by using Radio Locator or your favorite Internet search engine.

2. Local Print

The Austin American-Statesman has no online contest page, but maybe there are screening offers in their print version. Also check its Austin360.com Movie Blog for special events, which may include free sneak previews.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Austin Chronicle updates its online contests page every Friday with new screening offers, but sign up soon; they expire by the following Wednesday, if not earlier. And don't forget to check the print edition to see if any additional movies are offered.

I don't see any contests in the online version of The Austin Times, so pick up a copy and see if you have better luck there.

3. Local TV

Salsa TV is a very reliable screening provider that's based in Houston but has an affiliate station in Austin. Here's how it works: they post the date and city of a movie screening weeks in advance, but won't say anything further. You need to check back a day or two before the event; they'll let you know when and where to pick up passes. Usually it's at the TV station or a business that's close to the theater.

You can also try the contest pages of NBC 36, CBS 42, and The Austin CW.

4. Local Internet

Visit Soulciti, which may offer about 2-3 screenings a week, and will tell you where and when to pick up passes a day or two before each screening.

There's also The Spill, a local movie fansite with a pass distribution forum. So far it appears to be run by one person who uses the page to inform others when he has some extra passes, and they can e-mail him back if they're interested.

Finally, you may want to try the Austin Film Society. We're not sure if it promotes free screenings of movies yet to be released, but it's worth keeping an eye on.

5. Regional and National Internet

Sign up for a free membership in the Landmark Theatres Film Club and receive notices about screenings by e-mail.

Film Metro has gone national and may offer screenings just about anywhere. Take a look and see if your city is included.

Be sure to check the national forums at Fat Wallet and Slick Deals as well. THE MOVIE OUTSIDER has a representative that posts offers on each of those forums, and compiles a list of screenings by city that links back to here. More importantly, other members in the forums will relay info about multi-city screenings sponsored by the movie studios and PR firms. Use these sites in tandem, and you'll get about as much publicly available information as possible.

Specific Offers

27 DRESSES (otherwise opens January 11)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time/location TBA

Soulciti screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30pm in AMC Barton Creek Square

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Soulciti screening
Monday, Jan. 7 at 7:30pm in Regal Gateway

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Austin Chronicle screening
Date, time, and location unknown

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

Soulciti screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7:30pm in AMC Barton Creek Square

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time/location TBA

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

Austin Chronicle screening
Date, time, and location unknown

UNTRACEABLE (otherwise opens January 25)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Tuesday, Jan. 22, time/location TBA