- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Toronto International Film Festival
Category: Arts & Entertainment Festivals Festivals [Edit]
350 King St WToronto, ON M5V 3X5
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 977-4560
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Toronto International Film Festival
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
5/17/2012 7 photos
One thing I look forward to every year. The one event that brightens and enriches my life. One event that reminds me I have passion. One event that matters more than my birthday, Thanksgiving or Christmas. One event that makes me happy because I've had the same dream of making movies my entire life. And the dream is still alive.
There are many different packages for the festival. The most famous one is 10-film package, where you get to choose 10 films you wish to watch. I take 30-film package even though I have to miss the entire week of lectures! Make sure you look into package options that will suit your needs. There is a package where you receive 2 random tickets as well. Then there is daytime package (watching movies before 5pm). Premium screening package (galas and premieres for high-profile movies). Then there are afterparty tickets as well. These packages go on sale in July. Head to Bell Lightbox to purchase the package. You will receive the order booklet in mail.
If you are a member at TIFF, your orders will be processed ahead of others without membership. For example, let's say you bought 10-film pack and you picked what movies to watch. Your ticket order will be put into a box along with others' (I believe there are like 50-60 boxes). If you're lucky, you will get all the tickets you wanted. But if you're unlucky you may not get a single ticket you ordered because the shows are sold out. Then you will be given random tickets. But if you have a membership, your order will be processed ahead of others. There are around 10 different levels. The level that gets you that advantage is $700 with $300 tax credit. You might think that is pretty expensive, but you also get other benefits. You will be invited to another premium screening at TIFF for free! And you will get free exhibition tickets (I got 2 Tim Burton tickets for free in 2010), get invited to events (interview with filmmakers), get invited to premieres and more! Plus this is the money that makes TIFF possible every year, and it is what built TIFF Bell Lightbox
Now. Let's say you are greedy. Even though you have 30 tickets at hand, you want to have more. Single tickets go on sale at 7:00 AM on 1st or 2nd of September. I'll give you a tip that no one else will give you.
10-film or 30-film packs don't cover premium screenings. You have to buy separate tickets. Even though they say screening is sold out, it really isn't. So open 2 computers at 6:55 AM and get ready. The site will crash like mad. You need patience. It might take an hour to get through. But if you really are passionate about movies, keep trying. If you are buying multiple tickets (like 6), you will have to select the film one by one on the website. Every single screening is listed on one page. So you can now imagine how long the page is. They are sorted by date and time. There isn't a way to search the title. So looking for and selecting those movies alone can take a couple of minutes. It will pay off. Past 7 years, it always has paid off for me. If it keeps crashing, go back and do it again. Open multiple windows on your computer. Premium tickets are $40. Other regular screenings are $20.
Preference should be given to movies that you are not likely to find in theaters. They may not be released in theaters or even on DVDs. Even though they are released in theaters, you may not watch them. And it may take more than 2 years for them to reach Canadian theaters (some movies I watched in 2009 at TIFF came out in 2011).
There should be at least 1 hour gap between screenings. You have to arrive early to secure good spot. If the distance between theaters is long, then there should be more time gap. It is best to arrive at premium screenings at least 1.5 hours before the start of screening. Industry people and other privileged ticket holders (VISA platinum card owners, other packages, etc.) are going inside the theater first. I waited in line for 2 hours for Atonement (2008). I was literally 3rd or 4th person from the front. But when we got in, we sat way at the back. I know screening like this is great for taking a girl out for a date, but it's much better than sitting separately far apart. I just have a talk with the girl to get to know her eating some snacks.
And I don't really recommend watching more than 4 movies per day. It is quite exhausting, and after running around the whole city you don't really remember what you watched.
Must attend is the Midnight Madness. This programme is dedicated to strong genre and cult movies. You will find weird movies that really don't follow logics and movies that break conventional thinking. And of course horror movies are screened. The audiences are really enthusiastic. Watching movies with these people truly elevates the experience.
You might suffer depression after the fun time at festival, and feel suddenly life is boring. Worry not. The festival will be back within 365 days. -
Review from Paul R.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2010
My first TIFF experience was thoroughly awful from start to finish. I purchased tickets to see the "Red Carpet Gala" premiere of The Town for the 2010 festival and it was a total Gong Show.
What is a "Red Carpet Gala" premiere you ask? Well it's the opening night of the film at TIFF where the actors and production crew walk the red carpet and "attend" the premiere.
But lets unpack all these little concepts to understand what they truly mean when you buy your tickets.
When they say "Gala", they don't actually mean it in the strict sense of the term because no one would be allowed into a gala in skinny jeans and flannel shift. Needles to say, I was over dressed for this "red carpet" occasion. I was blown away. I know asking a Torontonain to put on a tie and jacket is a kin to murder, but for christ sake people you're at a film premiere, would it kill you to wear a suit for a few hours.
And when it comes to the "Red Carpet" don't actually plan to see anything going on on because you have to line up an hour or two before the films starts. Can you line up next to the red carpet and watch the actors come in at least while you wait? No, you wait around the other side of the building while all the people who aren't going to the show get to watch the red carpet action.
Now, one would think having tickets to a show would guarantee you a seat, and this ticket does, but why do you need to line up an hour before if the seat is guaranteed? I have no idea, but at TIFF you do. Why can't you go in early and sit in a sit? Who knows, no explanation was given by any of the less than useful staff/volunteers. I was told people line up early to get better seats, but why do they need to line up? Why not just let them sit in the seats when they show up? What's the difference is there are people in the seats an hour before? Apparently it's a big deal and they didn't even start letting people in until after the showing was supposed to begin.
Also, don't make any time sensitive post-movie plans because the movie doesn't start when it says its going to, they'll pick an arbitrary time to let people start sitting down (in the seats that have been empty for the last hour) and start the movie whenever is good.
But it doesn't matter, right, because you are here to watch the premiere with the starts?? Wrong again. They did a 15 minute intro, walked off stage and were never seen again.
Now the movie was good, but there is nothing I enjoy more than watching a movie at a 45 degree angle let me tell you. RTH is not the place to see a movie unless you are front and centre. Perhaps movie screenings should be done at, possibly, movie theatres? Apparently live stage productions and movies have entirely different types of theatres? There is a reason for this that is entirely obvious but that seems to eluded the fine folks at TIFF.
All in all, don't waste your money. See the movie when it comes out a week or so later for 1/4 the price and head on with the screen and no line-ups. -
Review from Dishan W.
12/14/2010 11 photos
Yes this festival is not an easy experience for the casual audience member looking to watch a movie or two, tickets for big movie gala's sell out early, and yes gala ticket prices are much more expensive than they should coming in at $45 and $20 for regular viewings. Yes gala events can be a let down as the director/producers or cast only come out for a few minutes to talk about the screening and then the movie starts. Yes you have to line up for hours on rush with the chance of not being lucky. Yes you can feel social inferior missing out on big time parties.
But apart from all that, tiff is one of the best times to be in Toronto and definitely the best time for a movie lover like me. Some people love it for the chance to see the biggest names in cinema walking around not just in Yorkville and some love it for the quality movie watching (not all movies though). The latter is the bigger reason I look forward to for tiff along with the reason that it's something that the whole city talks about (good or bad) for a couple of weeks in September and I love that. And from this past year as a volunteer, I saw it from a new angle and it's something everyone should try doing.
Some people complain that movies at tiff are not worth watching as they will come out in wide or limited release eventually, but they have to realise that a large majority of movies get that oppertunity because of festivals like tiff (some movies come in with a distributor in hand though so yes if you are watching only a few movies at tiff, I would recommend avoiding them).
Some advice - line up for rush tickets for non gala events, you are very likely to get in.
The movies are separated in to different categories, if you don't want to go through the entire movie list, browse the different categories (e.g. from hot up and coming directors, movies that push the boundaries etc) to select what you would want to watch.
Ask the volunteers what they have seen, or if they know what movies are getting buzz, a lot of volunteers would have seen a lot of movies or at least have heard about which movies are getting a lot of the buzz from the press screenings etc.
Volunteer for the festival! It is fun just waiting for you to join!Listed in: Your tiff Guide!, The tiff Bell Lightbox
-
Review from Jeff D.
10/21/2008
Before I was a Cheesemonger, I was an indy film guy (which doesn't have quite the same ring as 'Cheesemonger' but was a very cool gig nonetheless).
In the nineties I spent many an hour in dark rooms watching film, and some of the best times were at the Toronto Int'l Film Festival.
Well curated, professionally staged and extremely well organized, TIFF is a film professional's dream, and a model to how other cities could and should grow their festivals into world class, world envious events.
Kudos to festival staff for pulling all of this off with aplomb, and to the local, provincial and national governments for supporting this jewel (hint to the gov't back home in the USA, get a clue!) -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
11/11/2008 5 photos
Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF as the locals like to call it, is the biggest cluster F**ck in Toronto. 1200+ accredited members of the international press, 2nd largest film fest in the world (next to Cannes) and one completely out of control celebrity skin flick. I live at Avenue Rd. and Bloor which is ground zero for parties and red carpets and paparazzi. It's out of control. Think of the tangle of girls outside MuchMusic times 500 and you get an average day outside the hotels during TIFF. BUT the good part is that it pumps money into the city like Pride day for 10 days, all the bars get in on the action by flying in DJs from all over the world, bars pour till four am (all TEN DAYS!) and the hype is infectious.
If you don't live in my hood, then it's great. But beware of Yorkville during that time if you're planning on moving, every little thing, like getting a coffee or groceries is a huge production of crap American's in the film business all up in your junk putting gum in the machine. -
Review from Robin D.
9/19/2010
There are some serious problem with the film festival, but overall it is definitely something to enjoy and I would not miss out. So problems first, tickets are really expensive and the special prices are all limited. First come first serve so it is fair. I feel the TIFF is out to make money rather than to promote the great addiction of movies. For example, $20 for a movie (twice of regular movie ticket) and you have to pay $30 for the movie guide. I saw the guide and it is probably worth it if you plan to watch a lot of movies as it is very comprehensive. Planning online is a complete nightmare.
The nice thing I have come to learn is if you really want to see a movie, you can do it even if there are no tickets available. There are many options, buy them second hand, at box office morning of, or rush lines. I tried to see five movies in a day. For another film festival this may be reasonable, but not for the TIFF. The theatres are not close together and subway will not get you there fast enough. The end result was I missed one movie, but it was still a great day. They would not exchange or refund it either even though they still filled the theatre. =(Listed in: Touristy Things in Toronto…
-
Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/11/2008
I know this review is probably not helpful but I need to get this off my chest: If I see one more person walking around Yorkville with a TIFF badge hanging from his/her neck, I'm going to Throw myself onto Bloor St., get flattened out by a car, stick a string through my ear hole and hang myself like one of those bloody ID tags off the top of Silver City Cinema.
When did movie watching become such a self-congratulatory event? I know the festival does have a slight purpose for the industry but why do regular people suddenly line-up half-way across the city to see movies that are going to be released (and inevitably get panned) 1 week later? There is no point, save for the slight spine-tingle one might receive by telling one's friends that they got into a film at the fest. -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
1/29/2009
Though I understand Erin's frustration with the madness surrounding "The Festival", some of those people wearing the badges are people who work there (or are there as part of their job, ie. members of the press, industry, etc), and are too busy being exhausted and bloodshot to even think about congratulating themselves. Some of them. The people who are buying the tickets and subscribing to any sort of mania don't usually wear badges.
I heard many people complaining this year about things getting "too big". Understandable for those who have been enjoying TIFF since the early days, nobody likes it when their favourite indie band gets too popular. But yeah, as Anna said, it is incredibly important to our city's economy and status (sadly yes, I'm going there) and can be pretty fun and interesting if you let it. It can also be a little inconvenient for those not involved, but what can you do? It's better than flash floods and earthquakes, and maybe you'll see Brad Pitt at Starbucks. I'm just kidding, you won't.
