THE MOVIE OUTSIDER

Gearing up

2007-12-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

We're using the holiday period to compose individual pages for each city listed in the right column. In a change of plans, these pages will now serve two purposes.

1. We will compile any General Providers that are likely to offer free movie screenings.
2. A list of all available Specific Offers in that city will be listed at the bottom of the page.

For an example of what we're doing, check out Las Vegas. You'll notice that the specific offers will now include the date, time, and location of each screening, if known. Also, each page will be open for comments. We welcome any suggestions, especially those that inform us of any providers or screenings we may have forgotten.

Now that each city will have its own list of screenings, it makes less sense to write a master list of movies that are being screened. But since we've been doing it this way for a year, we'll stick with it a little longer.

Right now 17 movies are offered in the United States and Canada:

27 Dresses
The Bucket List
Cassandra's Dream
Cloverfield
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
First Sunday
How She Move
Mad Money
The Orphanage
Persepolis
Rambo
The Savages
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Strange Wilderness
There Will Be Blood
Untraceable
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

How it works

2007-11-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

As people are starting to navigate here -- and thank you for coming -- we want to explain how this site will (or at least should) work. Over the next month or so, we will compose how-to pages for each city that is listed in the right column of this page. (Right now they all link to a single page of general tips, with some specific advice for various cities.)

Ideally, this site will provide a thorough list of local resources for free advanced screenings for your city, and will then link to a master page of current movie offers, which will also be organized by city. This is a tall order for us, so forgive us while we work the kinks out.

While we pride ourselves on not wanting any personal information from our visitors -- there's no need to submit an name or an e-mail address here -- we could still benefit from our readers' local expertise. Obviously, we can't know everything about every city, so we encourage advice and feedback from you, especially with regards to screening providers (both online and offline) that we may have missed. The nice thing about the blog format is that you can leave comments, even anonymously. If you would like to help us compile sources and screening events, or add cities we've left out, we would appreciate the assistance.

Again, look for THE MOVIE OUTSIDER to approach a finished form in January 2008. We look forward to being the best source of the free information you deserve.

Watch this space

2007-11-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

It's time for the biggest and most time-consuming part of my personal blog to be spun off into its own entity.

Well, it's not quite time. The transfer from Brevity's Advanced Screenings Guide to this page should be complete by January 2008.

Please make a note of it.

Los Angeles

2007-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Los Angeles 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..."

In addition to its on-air contests, you'll see K-EARTH 101 offer a movie screening online every now and then. Hot 92.3 and Star 98.7 operate on a point system.

Also try News 980, Jack 93.1, Movin' 93.9, 94.7 The Wave, Free 97.1, V100, 102.7 KIIS, Indie 103.1, KOST 103.5, MY 104.3, and Power 106.

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

2. Local Print

The Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, and LA Daily News do not appear to have regular pages for online contests.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The LA Weekly, for example, might offer a little extra in their Insiders page. The OC Weekly will offer a movie or two, either as an advanced screening or for the run of engagement. The Inland Empire Weekly (in Corona) has a contest page. There's also the LA CityBeat, Easy Reader (Hermosa Beach), and Random Lengths (San Pedro).

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if movies are offered there.

3. Local TV

ABC 7 may sponsor a watch-and-win offer for a movie screening. NBC 4 offers movie-related prizes, but no screenings. Also visit CBS 2, My13 TV, and The CW.

4. Local Internet

Film Metro has gone national, but is still based in Southern California. Look for multiple offers in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Almost all of the screenings from Campus Circle address the greater Los Angeles area. Often, for major film releases, there will be a pair of simultaneous screenings: one in Hollywood, one elsewhere.

Creative Screenwriting has the occasional free screening. Sometimes it's for a recently released movie; other times it's for a movie yet to be released.

Sign up for the Sneak Preview Club at Laemmle Theatres. You'll receive an e-mail invite about once a month for an advanced screening of an arthouse film.

My Cinema Access offers multiple screenings throughout Los Angeles. They send out e-vites to registered members.

The sign-up form for Black in Los Angeles mentions giveaways for movie premieres.

Edge Los Angeles should soon have a great contest page with frequent and consistent movie offers. Understand that the site addresses gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture, so it's important to keep an open mind. After all, a contest is a contest, and anyone can enter. Besides, Edge is just one of several sponsors of a single screening -- they get some passes, and maybe a radio station gets others. So if you win passes, you'll be in a diverse crowd; it's not like they check your sexuality at the door.

5. Regional and National Internet

Blackfilm is based in New York City, but will sometimes include Los Angeles when it offers a screening in multiple cities.

The Screening Exchange will offer screenings that are months in advance of a movie's release. Once you register, you'll be contacted about upcoming screenings, and given a special code and instructions on how to confirm your admission.

Then there's the Landmark Theatres Film Club and The Cinema Source, where you can sign up to receive screening offers by e-mail. (They may be other film clubs out there with paid memberships, but that kind of action is beyond the scope of this site.)

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

K-EARTH screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30pm in AMC 30 at the Block

HOW SHE MOVE (otherwise opens January 25)

ABC 7 screening
Date, time, and location unknown

TEETH (limited release January 18)

Campus Circle screening
Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:30pm, location (in West LA) unknown

Kansas City

2007-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Houston 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..."

You should find a screening contest at least once a month from 96.5 The Buzz, 98.9 The Rock, and 99.7 KY. (Usually, it's the same screening, so triple your chances of winning.)

101 The Fox lists movie premieres among its offers exclusively available to their listener club. Also visit Mix 93.3, 94.1 KFKF, Soft Rock 98.1, Hot 103, and Magic 107.3.

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

2. Local Print

The Kansas City Star lives on the web as KansasCity.com, and it hides its movie contests on the bottom of the left column.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Pitch has a Free Stuff page, for example.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

MyKSMO and FOX 4 may get you movie passes. CBS 5 and ABC 9 offer movie-related prizes, but probably not screenings. Also try NBC 41.

Even the local cable company is in on the action; check out KC On Demand.

4. Local Internet

Aside from the above providers, we know of no local websites that address advanced film screenings. Please let us know if you find one.

5. Regional and National Internet

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

FOX 4 screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7:30pm, location (in Independence) unknown

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

MyKSMO screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7:30pm in AMC Parkway 14

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

MyKSMO screening
Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7:30pm in AMC Town Center

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

MyKSMO, 99.7 KY, The Buzz, The Rock, The Pitch screening
Thursday, Jan. 3 at 10pm in AMC Studio 30, Olathe

Indianapolis

2007-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Indianapolis 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..."

B105.7 usually has a screening to offer. Z99.5 has movies for its listeners club. WFMS 95.5 and Hot 96.3 have offered screenings in the past.

Also visit Sports 1260, WIBC 93.1, Q95, and X103.

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

2. Local Print

The Indianapolis Star does not offer contests, at least online. (Be sure to take a look at the print edition.) They also power Indy.com, which has a small contest section.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. NUVO is an alternative weekly with screening contests on its website. Also flip through the Indianapolis Recorder, maybe.

3. Local TV

ABC 6 offers movie-related prizes, but not screenings. Then check out The CW 4, CBS 8, NBC 13, My23 TV, and FOX 59.

4. Local Internet

The front page of Indy Moms will, on occasion, include a screening. There's also a print magazine version that appears as an insert in the Sunday newspaper.

5. Regional and National Internet

Movie Jungle, which is based out of Lexington, spreads into other cities in the Midwest, including Indianapolis.

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

B105.7 screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9, time and location unknown

Houston

2007-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

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..."

104.1 KRBE will feature an advanced screening among its contests fairly regularly. Majic 102.1 has a movie screening section on its contest page; looks like you listen to win.

Then check Newsradio 740, 790 The Sports Animal, 93Q, 94.5 The Buzz, 95.7 The Wave, Mix 96.5, Legends 97.1, Sunny 99.1, 100.3 KILT, 106.9 The Point, and 107.5 K-Hits.

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

2. Local Print

The Houston Chronicle has a reliable contest page for movie screenings. Make sure you check the page in a timely fashion; entries are usually due about 3-5 days before the screening date.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. Both the Houston Press and the Houston Community Newspapers have online contests.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

Salsa TV is a very reliable screening provider based in Houston. 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.

ABC 13 may offer a movie among its contests and promotions. NBC 2 provides movie-related prizes, if not screenings. Also try The CW and The Tube 55.

4. Local Internet

Aside from the above providers, we know of no local websites that address advanced film screenings. Please let us know if you find one.

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

Houston Chronicle screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Houston Chronicle screening
Monday, Jan. 7, time and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Salsa TV screenings -- read about Salsa TV above!
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time and location TBA
(in Houston and Rio Grande Valley)

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

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

Houston Chronicle screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9, time and location unknown

ABC 13 screening
Date, time, and location unknown

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Date, time, and location TBA

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Thursday, Jan. 3, time and location TBA

THE ORPHANAGE (already in limited release)

Houston Chronicle screening
Thursday, Jan. 10, time and location unknown

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

Houston Chronicle screening
Thursday, Jan. 10, time and location unknown

UNTRACEABLE (otherwise opens January 25)

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

Ft. Lauderdale

2007-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Ft. Lauderdale 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..."

Not living in the area, it's unclear to us which radio stations in the South Florida area are local to Ft. Lauderdale. So navigate to the Miami page instead.

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

2. Local Print

The Palm Beach Post has a contest page that is not updated very often. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel doesn't even have that.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The New Times of Broward-Palm Beach has a Free Stuff page. The Promenade does not.

Remember to flip through the print versions of the above papers for any additional offers.

3. Local TV

As we said with the Local Radio section above, navigate to the Miami page for a list of TV stations in South Florida.

4. Local Internet

Edge Ft. Lauderdale has a great contest page with frequent and consistent movie offers. Understand that the site addresses gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture, so it's important to keep an open mind. After all, a contest is a contest, and anyone can enter. Besides, Edge is just one of several sponsors of a single screening -- they get some passes, and maybe a radio station gets others. So if you win passes, you'll be in a diverse crowd; it's not like they check your sexuality at the door.

5. Regional and National Internet

Film Metro has gone national and may offer screenings just about anywhere. Take a look and see if your city is included. (In the past, screenings have appeared in Hollywood and West Palm Beach as well.)

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Edge Ft. Lauderdale screening
Date, time, and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Edge Ft. Lauderdale screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Film Metro screening
Tuesday, Jan. 15, time and location (in West Palm Beach) unknown

HOW SHE MOVE (otherwise opens January 25)

Edge Ft. Lauderdale screening
Date, time, and location unknown

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

Edge Ft. Lauderdale screening
Date, time, and location unknown

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

Edge Ft. Lauderdale screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Edmonton

2007-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Edmonton 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..."

100.3 The Bear and CISN 103.9 each have a movie premiere page; screenings are listed, but how to win passes for them is not apparent. You may have to listen to win, as is the case with The Team 1260 movie premieres.

AM 630 and Cool 880 conveniently list their online and on-air contests on the same page. Also try 790 CFCW and K-Rock 97.3.

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

2. Local Print

Stare into the Edmonton Sun for a movie offer once or twice a month. There's also the Edmonton Journal of the Canada.com network. While it compiles many national contests, look for active local contests near the top of the page. If you find one, enter soon, because the contest window is brief.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The VUE Weekly website includes its contest rules, so there must be something relevant in its pages. There's also the Edmonton Examiner.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any movie screenings are offered there.

3. Local TV

CityTV has a contest page with a Movie Ticket Giveaway section. CTV has an affiliate in Edmonton.

Global TV and the CBC seem to operate nationally, with nothing specific to Alberta.

4. Local Internet

Aside from the providers above, we're not aware of any local website that offers advanced screenings. Please inform us if there are any.

5. Regional and National Internet

Dose.ca has a multi-city offer for a movie about once a month. Tribute.ca is a bit more frequent, with 2-3 movies a month. Showbiz Monkeys operates weekly or better.

Teen Hollywood (and affiliated sites Teen Music and Teen Television) might include a theatrical screening among its many DVD and soundtrack giveaways. Same with Movies Online.

Be sure to check the 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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

CISN 103.9 screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7pm in South Common Cinema

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Showbiz Monkeys screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7pm, location unknown

Teen Hollywood screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time and location unknown

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

Showbiz Monkeys screening
Thursday, Jan. 3 at 10pm, location unknown

RAMBO (otherwise opens January 25)

100.3 The Bear screening
Thursday, Jan. 24 at (time unknown) in Scotiabank Theatres

STRANGE WILDERNESS (otherwise opens February 1)

100.3 The Bear screening
Wednesday, Jan. 30, time and location unknown

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

100.3 The Bear screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at (time unknown) in North Edmonton Theatres

UNTRACEABLE (otherwise opens January 25)

Tribute.ca screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Detroit

2007-01-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Detroit 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..."

Newsradio 950, Channel 95.5, and Hot 102.7 each offer online contests. Doug 93.1 has a movie section. V98.7 and 106.7 The Fox have listener clubs. Also try 1130 The Fan, 97.1 The Ticket, 98 WJLB, 99.5 WYCD, 100.3 WNIC, and Ann Arbor's 107.1.

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

2. Local Print

The Detroit Free Press gives you Marketplace Detroit, a contest page that offers a single movie screening that changes about every 3 weeks. The Detroit News does not offer online contests.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. Online, the Metro Times renews its buzz page every Wednesday. The Real Detroit Weekly is not as much help, at least online.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

The NBC affiliate, channel 4, offers Click On Detroit, which does include a screening about once a month, as well as contests for movie-related prizes. There are contests for MyFOX 2, ABC 7, My TV20, The CW, and CBS 62, as well.

4. Local Internet

The giveaways at Exclusive Magazine will often include movie screenings, announced 1-2 weeks in advance. E-mail your entry; winners receive a special code that you present at the screening for admission.

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Exclusive Magazine screening
Monday, Jan. 7, time and location (in Novi) unknown

Film Metro screening
Monday, Jan. 7, time and location (in Novi) unknown

HOW SHE MOVE (otherwise opens January 25)

Marketplace Detroit screening
Date, time, and location unknown

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

Exclusive Magazine screening
Thursday, Jan. 3 at (time unknown) in Uptown Palladium, Birmingham

Metro Times screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Film Metro screening
Thursday, Jan. 3, time and location (in Birmingham) unknown

THE ORPHANAGE (already in limited release)

Exclusive Magazine screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8 at (time unknown) in Uptown Palladium, Birmingham

Film Metro screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location (in Birmingham) unknown

Denver

2007-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Denver 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..."

The contest page at Smooth Jazz 104.3 has offered movie screenings before. 103.5 The Fox has a listener club. Also visit Talk 630, AM 760, Newsradio 850, 950 The Fan, Area 93, 95.7 The Party, 98.5 KYGO, and KS 107.5.

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

2. Local Print

The Denver Post has no contest page online, but the Rocky Mountain News does.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. Westword has a Free Stuff page, for example. At this time, the Denver Weekly News site is under construction.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

ABC 7 offers movie-related prizes, but not screenings. Also check CBS 4 and MyFOX 31.

4. Local Internet

Starland is a local movie fansite with fairly active screening offers. Usually you fill out an entry form and take it to a local music store to redeem for passes. But for last-minute offers (as in the day of the screening), follow the directions and they'll send you an e-mail to print out for admission.

Blackflix will on occasion have a contest for movie passes. Usually you send your entry via U.S. mail.

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

THE ORPHANAGE (already in limited release)

Film Metro screening
Thursday, Jan. 10, time and location unknown

Dallas

2007-01-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Dallas 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..."

Movin 107.5 has an MVP club. Lite 103.7 offers the occasional screening among its many contests. Kiss 106.1 has a contest page and a listener club. Then try News/Talk 820, Newsradio 1080, and 99.5 The Wolf.

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

2. Local Print

The Dallas Morning News has a contests and events page. They also print out a free daily paper called Quick DFW, whose website includes a Promotions tab (with events, contests, and something called "Quick Flix"). May be worth checking out. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram does not seem to be of any online help.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Dallas Observer has a Free Stuff page that has included screenings. Then there's the Fort Worth Weekly.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

In the past, CBS 11 conducted screening contests online. NBC 5 offers movie-related prizes, but not screenings. Also visit The CW.

4. Local Internet

Edge Dallas has a great contest page with frequent and consistent movie offers. Understand that the site addresses gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture, so it's important to keep an open mind. After all, a contest is a contest, and anyone can enter. Besides, Edge is just one of several sponsors of a single screening -- they get some passes, and maybe a radio station gets others. So if you win passes, you'll be in a diverse crowd; it's not like they check your sexuality at the door.

Pop Syndicate occasionally offers a pass pick-up (usually at a local comic book store). Also look for promotions from Luv2ViewMovies. A couple of screenings have appeared on BigFanboy.com, a local forum.

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)

Edge Dallas screening
Date, time, and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Edge Dallas screening
Date, time, and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time/location TBA

HOW SHE MOVE (otherwise opens January 25)

Edge Dallas screening
Date, time, and location unknown

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

Salsa TV screening -- read about Salsa TV above!
Thursday, Jan. 3 at 10pm, location TBA

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

Pop Syndicate screening
Wednesday, Jan. 2, time and location unknown

Columbus

2007-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Columbus 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..."

Power 107 holds online contests for movie passes. 95.5 The Hawk has a contest page and a listeners club. Also try the contests at Newsradio 610, Talk 1230, 92.3 WCOL, Lite 93.3, Sunny 95, Mix 97.1, WNCI 97.9, and The Brew 105.7.

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

2. Local Print

The Columbus Dispatch has a contest page with infrequent screenings. It's affiliated with ThisWeek, the neighborhood weekly paper, which also offers online contests.

Speaking of, you should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. Columbus Alive may offer a movie screening or DVD at any given time. The Other Paper does not appear to have online contests. Nor does U Weekly, which operates out of Ohio State.

Don't forget to check the print editions of these papers to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

The CW has a contest or pass pick-up for movies every month or so. ABC 6 / FOX 28 has movie-related prizes, but no screenings. Also look at NBC 4 and CBS 10.

The cable company also has a contest page; visit Around RR.

4. Local Internet

Aside from the sites listed above, we couldn't find any screening providers based in Columbus. Let us know if we're wrong, and tell us who to add.

5. Regional and National Internet

Movie Jungle, which is based out of Lexington, KY, spreads into other cities in the Midwest, including Columbus.

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

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

The CW screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7:30pm in Arena Grand

Power 107 screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Cleveland

2007-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Cleveland 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..."

Q104 offers one online screening contest at a time, and it changes about once a week. 98.5 WNCX used to do something similar, offering about 2 movies a month. ESPN 850/1540 has also offered passes.

Z107.9 has no online contests, but it mentions movie passes among the many prizes for members of its listener club, so be sure to sign up.

News Radio 1100, 93.1 WZAK, Kiss 96.5, Majic 105.7, and Mix 106.5 have both contest pages and listener clubs. Also try Soft Rock 102.1 and The Wave 107.3.

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

2. Local Print

The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Sun News share an Internet presence at Cleveland.com, which has its own contest page. You may run across a few screenings a year. Also be sure to flip through the print versions of each: the Plain Dealer publishes daily, and the Sun News is a neighborhood weekly with new issues every Thursday.

Speaking of, you should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. Cleveland Scene has a Free Stuff page that has included screenings before. So far, the Free Times has offered only music prize packs. Don't forget to check the print edition to see if any additional movies are offered.

Finally, there's Cool Cleveland, a weekly e-mail newsletter with a event list that might be helpful.

3. Local TV

CBS 19 lists contests in the left column, and screenings have appeared there in the past. ABC 5 offers movie-related prizes, but not screenings. Then there's NBC 3, MyFox 8, My43 TV, and The CW.

4. Local Internet

Creating Cleveland is a college blog (don't knock blogs, because you're reading one right now) that lists screenings; sometimes you pick up the pass, and sometimes you e-mail to win them.

5. Regional and National Internet

Movie Jungle, which is based out of Lexington, KY, spreads into other cities in the Midwest. Check to see if Cleveland is ever among them. (Cincinnati and Columbus appear regularly.)

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)

Q104 screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, in Richmond Town Square, time unknown

Cincinnati

2007-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Cincinnati 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..."

In the past, screenings have appeared at 700 WLW, 102.7 WEBN, and Kiss 107.

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

2. Local Print

The Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati Post share an online portal: Cincinnati.com, whose giveaways page will often include a movie sneak.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. CityBeat has a promotions page that may include up to four screenings. And don't forget to check the print edition to see if any additional movies are offered.

3. Local TV

Channel 38 usually has at least one screening at any given time. FOX 19 has a movie pass contest every month or so. NBC 5 and My64 TV have movie-related prizes, but not screenings. Finally there's ABC 9, CBS 12, and The CW.

4. Local Internet

We haven't found a screening website that's based in Cincinnati and is not already listed above. Let us know if there are any.

5. Regional and National Internet

Movie Jungle, which is based out of Lexington, spreads into other cities in the Midwest, including Cincinnati.

ZipScene addresses Cincinnati and a few other cities. The front page has a Movie of the Week feature, where you win passes.

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)

Cincinnati.com screening
Thursday, Jan. 10, time and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

CityBeat screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7:30pm in AMC Newport on the Levee

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

CityBeat screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7:30pm, location unknown

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (limited release)

CityBeat screening
Thursday, Jan. 10 at (time unknown) in the Esquire

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

Channel 38 screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9, time and location unknown

THE ORPHANAGE (already in limited release)

CityBeat screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at (time unknown) in the Esquire

Chicago

2007-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Boston 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..."

Find the occasional screening contests at 93 XRT, 97.9 The Loop, Love 100.3, Q101, Mix 101.9, V103, and Kiss 103.5. Meanwhile, WLS 890 and B96 have listener clubs.

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

2. Local Print

The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times each lack a contest page, so you may want to read through their print editions and look for screening offers, if any.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Chicago Reader and Chicago Weekly offer nothing online, but maybe you'll find something by flipping through their print versions.

3. Local TV

NBC 5 normally offers only movie-related prizes, but has on occasion listed a screening contest as well. Then visit the relevant pages at MyFOX, CBS 2, ABC 7, WGN 9, and My50 TV.

4. Local Internet

Time Out is a helpful source of screenings; all you do is click on the movie offer and enter your e-mail address.

Edge Chicago has a great contest page with frequent and consistent movie offers. Understand that the site addresses gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture, so it's important to keep an open mind. After all, a contest is a contest, and anyone can enter. Besides, Edge is just one of several sponsors of a single screening -- they get some passes, and maybe a radio station gets others. So if you win passes, you'll be in a diverse crowd; it's not like they check your sexuality at the door.

Hollywood Chicago is a blog (don't knock it, because you're reading one right now) that tries to compile some screenings nationwide from a few other, better sources. But it can't hurt to look, especially for offers in Chicago.

5. Regional and National Internet

Blackfilm is based in New York City, but will sometimes include Chicago when it offers a screening in multiple cities.

Sign up for a free membership in the Landmark Theatres Film Club and receive notices about screenings by e-mail. Do the same with The Cinema Source.

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)

Bloomingdales screening -- found on Fat Wallet
Date, time, and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Film Metro screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location unknown

ONE MISSED CALL (otherwise opens January 4)

Film Metro screening
Thursday, Jan. 3, time and location unknown

Charlotte

2007-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Charlotte 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..."

K104.7 offers online contests to win screening passes, usually for family movies. Kiss 95.1 has a movie club that gives away sneak preview tickets to its members; you'll have to sign up to learn more. You can also try Power 98, WSOC 103.7, and V101.9.

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

2. Local Print

The Charlotte Observer is of no help online, but maybe there are movie screenings available in the print version.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. There's Creative Loafing, for example, which updates its online offers every Tuesday. When they offer an advanced screening, sometimes they make you enter online to win tickets, and sometimes they tell you where and when to pick up passes from a local business. And don't forget to check the print edition to see if movies are offered there.

3. Local TV

ABC 9 includes contests to win movie-related prizes, but not screenings. And we haven't seen anything yet from CBS 3 or The CW.

4. Local Internet

Once or twice a month, Charlotte Vibe will offer passes to an advanced screening. The offer usually gets posted a week or so ahead of time.

5. Regional and National Internet

Shakefire is based in Atlanta, but often stretches throughout the Southeast, including Charlotte. Register to win for any of several screenings offered each month. As we understand it, they reward those who participate in their forums most frequently, but you may want to look into it for more details.

CHUD also comes from Atlanta, but may include Charlotte when it offers screenings in multiple cities. Usually they provide a Charlotte-specific e-mail address for you to send your entry. Presumably, the winners are later notified and mailed passes.

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Film Metro screening
Monday, Jan. 7, time and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Shakefire screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time and location unknown

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

CHUD screening
Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7pm in The Manor

Calgary

2007-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Calgary 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..."

The Fan 960 has an online entry form that it probably uses in conjunction with contests conducted on the air. Online contests appear at AM 1060, Shine 88.9, CJAY 92, The Eagle 100.9, and the curiously named California 103, but we haven't noticed any screenings yet. A few stations operate on a point system: AM 770, Jack FM, Lite 96, Country 105, and Q107.

Vibe 98.5 has a movie club, where you can win tickets by listening in or by cashing VIP points.

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

2. Local Print

Stare into the Calgary Sun for a movie offer once or twice a month. But check often because the contest window is usually only a few days. There's also the Calgary Herald of the Canada.com network, which usually just compiles contests at the national level.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Fast Forward Weekly has an online contest page; The Anchor does not. The Calgary Weekly no longer appears to have a website.

Don't forget to check the print editions of the above papers to see if any movie screenings are offered there.

3. Local TV

CityTV has a contest page with a Movie Ticket Giveaway section. CTV has an affiliate in Calgary.

Global TV and the CBC seem to operate nationally, with nothing specific to Alberta.

4. Local Internet

There is the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, which does a free classic film series, but we're not aware of any local website that offers advanced screenings. Please inform us if there are any.

5. Regional and National Internet

Dose.ca has a multi-city offer for a movie about once a month. Tribute.ca is a bit more frequent, with 2-3 movies a month. Showbiz Monkeys operates weekly or better.

Teen Hollywood (and affiliated sites Teen Music and Teen Television) might include a theatrical screening among its many DVD and soundtrack giveaways. Same with Movies Online.

Be sure to check the 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

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Showbiz Monkeys screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7pm, location unknown

Teen Hollywood screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time and location unknown

UNTRACEABLE (otherwise opens January 25)

Tribute.ca screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Boston

2007-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

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..."

Kiss 108 should update the Movie Club section of its contest page about once a month. Jam'n 94.5 has offered a screening or two in the past. A bunch of other radio stations have a contest page, though few are helpful here: Talk 680, News Radio 1030, Mike FM, 92.9 WBOS, Classical 99.5, FNX Radio, Oldies 103.3, WBCN 104.1, and 105.7 WROR.

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

2. Local Print

The Boston Globe has a contest page at Boston.com. Then there's the Boston Herald.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Phoenix and the Weekly Dig have no online contests, but maybe you'll find something by flipping through their print versions.

Also consider any campus papers if you live near one of the many colleges in the Boston area. For example, the Harvard Crimson may have no movie screenings on their website, but maybe the print version is more helpful.

3. Local TV

ABC 5 offers only movie-related prizes, not screenings. Find even less at CBS 4 and MyFOX 25.

4. Local Internet

Edge Boston has a great contest page with frequent and consistent movie offers. Understand that the site addresses gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender culture, so it's important to keep an open mind. After all, a contest is a contest, and anyone can enter. Besides, Edge is just one of several sponsors of a single screening -- they get some passes, and maybe a radio station gets others. So if you win passes, you'll be in a diverse crowd; it's not like they check your sexuality at the door.

Mass Live.com has a number of contests for sporting events and live performances; maybe they'll add movies to their list.

Meetup.com has a Boston Movie Group that arranges free advanced screenings. Similarly, the Boston Screening Community is a LiveJournal bulletin board that may provide some helpful local information.

5. Regional and National Internet

Free Movie Screenings has a separate page for Boston events. It's active every now and then, but many of the offers you find are cut and paste jobs from the forums mentioned below.

Sign up for a free membership in the Landmark Theatres Film Club and receive notices about screenings by e-mail. Do the same with The Cinema Source.

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

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Edge Boston screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Film Metro screening
Monday, Jan. 7, time and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Edge Boston screening
Date, time, and location unknown

HOW SHE MOVE (otherwise opens January 25)

Edge Boston screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Baltimore

2007-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Baltimore 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..."

There are contest pages at Free FM, Lite FM, Jack FM, and Mix 106.5. But you may have better luck with these and other radio stations offline.

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

2. Local Print

The Baltimore Sun might list up to 6 movies at any time on its contest page. The newspaper has a related Sun Plus page that contains only a blank registration form, with no context of what movies or prizes are involved. (You may have to look into this further to find out how it works.)

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Jewish Times offers a different movie on its screening contest page every Thursday.

The Baltimore City Paper activates its contest page for 24 hours each Wednesday, from midnight to 11:59pm. (Because of this short window, its offers won't appear at the bottom of this page.) If there are multiple movies, you have to choose one for your entry form. By Thursday, the page disappears and won't appear until the following week.

Don't forget to check the print edition to see if any additional movies are offered there.

3. Local TV

No luck online. NBC 11 has movie-related prizes, but no screenings. And you can periodically check the contest pages of ABC 2, CBS 13, FOX 45, and The CW.

4. Local Internet

Metromix is a city guide that has a Free Stuff section near the bottom right corner. Look for the occasional movie contest when it updates every Monday.

Press Box is a sports site that has included movie screenings in its Contests & Games page.

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)

Baltimore Sun screening
Date, time, and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

Film Metro screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location unknown

CASSANDRA'S DREAM (limited release January 18)

Baltimore Sun screening
Date, time, and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Baltimore Sun screening
Date, time, and location unknown

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

Baltimore Sun screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Jewish Times screening
Date, time, and location unknown

Austin

2007-01-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

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

Atlanta

2007-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Atlanta 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..."

In the past, Star 94, B98.5, and 97.1 The River have each sponsored sneak previews. Q100 used to offer screenings, but they still list some listen-to-win contests at the bottom of their page. 99X has online contests, but is more likely to give away passes out of their prize van. V-103 does the listen-to-win thing. Sign up at Eagle 106.7 to find the occasional contest.

You might also try your luck with the contest pages of 94.9 The Bull, 95.5 The Beat, Kiss 104.1, WSB 750, and 790 The Zone.

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

2. Local Print

Though it lacks an online contest page, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution does apparently offer passes in its print version -- about once every other week. Look for ads of these offers and follow their instructions. Usually, you go to the newspaper's corporate office or a local business to pick up passes. Sometimes they give you a phone number and some prompts to call for passes, or even request contest submissions by mail.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. There's Creative Loafing, for example, which updates its online offers every Tuesday. When they offer an advanced screening, sometimes they make you enter online to win tickets, and sometimes they tell you where and when to pick up passes from a local business. And don't forget to check the print edition to see if movies are offered there.

The Sunday Paper is actually a free weekly paper published on Thursdays. Look for pass pick-up offers in their print editions.

3. Local TV

Visit The CW for frequent online contests. You can also try the contest page at MyFOX 5, but be advised that the rules are strictly enforced: you can win only once every 90 days, and winners must present ID when they pick up passes at the station. ABC 2 and CBS 46 offer movie-related prizes, but not screenings.

4. Local Internet

The place to go is Shakefire, where you register to win for any of several screenings offered each month. As we understand it, they reward those who participate in their forums most frequently, but you may want to look into it for more details.

CHUD is based in Atlanta, but spreads out a little into other cities in the Southeast. They should offer a few local screenings each month; usually they provide an e-mail address where you send your entry, but sometimes it's a last-minute thing where a representative will have a stack of passes at the screening itself. Then, presumably, you just show up, and it's first come, first serve.

5. Regional and National Internet

Blackfilm is based in New York City, but will sometimes include Atlanta when it offers a screening in multiple cities.

Then there's the Landmark Theatres Film Club and The Cinema Source, where you can sign up to receive screening offers by e-mail. (They may be other film clubs out there with paid memberships, but that kind of action is beyond the scope of this site.)

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)

The CW screening
Thursday, Jan. 10, time and location unknown

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

Shakefire screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16, time and location unknown

THE ORPHANAGE (already in limited release)

CHUD screening
Date, time, and location unknown

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

CHUD and The CW screening
Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7pm in UA Tara

Albuquerque

2007-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. If you live in Albuquerque 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..."

Big I-107.9 and The Peak have online contests for screening passes -- maybe one movie per month. (Also try 94 Rock, which might do so on occasion.) Then there are 92.3 KRST, which may offer a few more screenings, but operate on a point system called a VIP rewards program. You'll have to look into the rules if you're interested. Similarly, News Radio 770 and 99.5 Magic FM have listener clubs.

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

2. Local Print

The Albuquerque Journal does not appear to have a contest page, so any movie screenings it may offer are offline, in the print version. (We'd greatly appreciate any confirmation or correction on this.) By comparison, the Albuquerque Tribune does have a Contest Zone.

You should also look for any weekly or community papers that you might find in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. For example, there's the Weekly Alibi. No mention of screenings online, so go through a few print issues and see if you have better luck there.

3. Local TV

Screening contests (as many as 4 at a time) appear regularly on the FOX 2 website. Also check My50 TV and New Mexico's CW, which do so less frequently. You can also visit ABC 7 for movie-related prizes, but we haven't noticed any screenings offered there.

4. Local Internet

We haven't found any dedicated movie screening providers based here.

5. Regional and National Internet

Volition, for whatever reason, compiles multi-city screenings for cities in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Southwest. Albuquerque is often among those cities. Look for an offer about once a month. When a screening is available, you can usually enter the contest once a day until it expires, and increase your chances of winning.

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)

FOX 2 screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location unknown

THE BUCKET LIST (already in limited release)

FOX 2 screening
Tuesday, Jan. 8, time and location unknown

THE SAVAGES (already in limited release)

Fox Searchlight screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at 7pm in Century Downtown

Las Vegas

2007-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. Because we live in Las Vegas, this city page will be more informative than most others.

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..."

Mix 94.1 uses the listen-to-win approach. 97.1 The Point does the prize van thing on Friday afternoons. If you're interested, listen to that station and find out where the action is. Personally, we like the online option, because you don't have to listen to the radio, and you don't need to leave the house unless you know you've won. Three stations offer online contests: KLUC 98.5, 100.5 Jack FM, and X-107.5. All are owned by CBS Radio, and winners have to pick up their passes in the same office on West Sahara.

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

2. Local Print

The Las Vegas Review-Journal prints notices of its screening contests in its Living section, along with the daily movie listings. Usually, you have to register online. So you can skip the subscription and just check their website periodically.

You should also check a pair of weekly papers that are published each Thursday. Look for them in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Las Vegas Weekly often sponsors a few movies to be screened the following week. All of it is offline: they will publish a quarter-page ad for each, letting you know when and where to pick up passes. (Normally, you pick them up in the publisher's office in Henderson.) Also visit the CityLife website for screening contests; when available, they will appear in the right-hand column.

3. Local TV

So far none of the local TV stations in southern Nevada offer movie screenings, at least online. If things change on this front, we'll let you know.

4. Local Internet

First, the Las Vegas Movie Insider offers at least one screening a week. Sometimes you can simply print out a pass, but usually you need to pick up passes from a local business, usually in the west side of town. (Be sure to follow the directions on the site; often you'll need to print out the information and exchange it for a pass.)

Second, there's Vegas Film Critic, which updates its page less often, but sends the passes to the winners by U.S. mail. In the past we've noticed that winners may also receive an additional pass to an unadvertised screening because the site did not have the time to set up a contest for that movie.

5. Regional and National Internet

Volition, for whatever reason, compiles multi-city screenings for cities in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Southwest. Las Vegas is often among those cities. Look for an offer about once a month. When a screening is available, you can usually enter the contest once a day until it expires, and increase your chances of winning.

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

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

CityLife screening
Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7pm in Brenden Palms

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (limited release)

Movie Insider screening
Monday, Jan. 7 at 7pm in Century Suncoast

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

Vegas Film Critic and KLUC 98.5 screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7pm in Century Orleans

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

CityLife screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at 7pm at Rave Town Square

THE SAVAGES (already in limited release)

Fox Searchlight screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at 7pm in Century Suncoast

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

CityLife screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7pm in Brenden Palms