Austin Convention Center (ACC) Vimeo Theater at SXSW

The Austin Convention Center (ACC) "theater" is a temporary setup on the ground floor of the convention center during the SXSW Film Festival. In 2011, the theater is also known as the Vimeo Theater, but it's in the same location as in previous years (ACC Exhibit Hall 5). Also in 2011, 200 more seats have been added to this theater, bringing the total count to a whopping 600. During the film conference, this is the most convenient theater of the festival. During the music festival, I sometimes feel weirdly out of place here, but it's even easier to find a seat at most screenings.

Pros: ACC may be the best downtown venue for passholders or individual ticket buyers to see SXSW films. The location is unbeatable during the film conference -- you're right in the heart of the festival. The seats are on a good incline and short people should have no problem viewing the screen.

Cons: The seats are cramped, with hardly any legroom (or room for your backpack). You don't get the movie-theater vibe that you would with the Paramount ... this feels more like a big classroom. Also, once the music festival starts, the area outside the theater gets even more crowded than usual, although the theater itself almost always has seats.

Screens and Capacity: The Vimeo Theater holds 600, making it the second-largest SXSW film venue (after the Paramount). Lines are always indoors, which is nice on a wet day.

Parking: Pay to park in the garage next to the convention center, or the big surface/dirt lot closest to Cesar Chavez. This is a good place to park for the day (and night) during SXSW, especially before Music starts.

Public Transportation:  While three bus routes come close to ACC (#17, #21/22), you'll save time by walking to/from this venue unless you have non-film departure/destination points. Still if you have a multi-day bus pass and see one, it might be worth hopping on when you see one. Just make sure you know you're going the proper direction, so ask the driver.  And if you're relying on the MetroRail to get into and out of town, that's your venue because it all starts right outside ACC, but the catch with the extended hours are Fridays and Saturdays of SXSW is the last train leaves at 11:30pm.

Distance: You can walk to the Paramount and Alamo Ritz, and you're smack in the middle of the film conference. If you've got a room at the Hilton, you barely have to walk at all, you lucky dog.

Food and Beverages: Skip the convention center itself unless you're seriously dying of hunger or in need of coffee. Outside, you'll find some affordable spots like Iron Works, PF Chang's, and Mongolian BBQ. These places will be super-swamped at lunchtime, so you might want to walk a few blocks more and explore Austin's many downtown lunch options. Local food trailers will be stopping by ACC throughout the fest: we recommend checking Austin Food Carts if you're interested in specifics.

Wireless: Wireless access is available around ACC during the entire film festival. Can't beat that.