The 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival returns to fully in-person screenings for 2022, with celebrities and some of the most anticipated films of the season hitting the town.
This year’s festival runs from September 8 to 18 at venues across the city, including the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Scotiabank Theater Toronto, Roy Thomson Hall, Visa Showroom at the Princess of Wales Theater and the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Organizers say the festival will be back in full force, as it was before the pandemic, when it kicks off next week. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey previously said in a press release that the organization is “proud and delighted” to be welcoming audiences.
“Film fans can enjoy screenings of the most exciting new cinema from around the world in the heart of the city… feel the hustle and bustle of Festival Street and catch a glimpse of their favorite stars – but most of all they can dive back in. to that moviegoing experience that Toronto audiences love,” Bailey said.
With a slate of nearly 200 films, some of this year’s buzziest films include Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Clement Virgo’s adaptation of Brother, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” starring Daniel Radcliffe, Canadian director and actress Sarah Polley “Women Talking” and “My Policeman” starring Harry Styles, among many others.
The official film schedule for the festival is available online here.
Ahead of the festival, CTVNews.ca takes a look at what movie fans need to know when it comes to securing movie tickets and snapping a photo with celebrities on the red carpet.
HOW DO I GET TICKETS?
Sales start for some packages and individual tickets on the following dates:
August 31 — Pre-sale of individual tickets for Visa Infinite cardholders
September 1st — Refunds close for those who previously purchased ticket packages in person (6 p.m. ET)
September 3 — Contributor Circle (10am ET) and Member 365 (12pm ET) individual ticket pre-sale
September 4 — Individual tickets go on sale to TIFF Insiders and free pass holders under 25
September 5 — Individual tickets go on sale to the public
September 6 — Exchanges for festival tickets become available at Festival Account Manager and Ticketmaster.ca.
Tickets may be purchased online, by phone between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM ET on sale dates at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433; or in person at the Steve & Rashmi Gupta box office inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox during the festival.
Individual ticket prices vary between show time, seating plan and venue, with more details available here.
TIFF says festival tickets can be “extremely limited,” especially for red carpet screenings, world or North American premieres and screenings that feature audience questions and answers. The organization suggests fans and moviegoers select a range of festival films they would be interested in, as well as backup options if the selected films sell out.
If a show is changed or cancelled, ticket buyers will be notified by email.
WHAT ABOUT RUSH TICKETS?
If a festival screening is “sold out” — meaning tickets are sold out — fans of the film still have the option of trying to snag a spot on the day of it by lining up for rush tickets.
Those without tickets can wait in the designated rush line as a “last chance” to see a movie on the day it’s shown. Moviegoers on this line will be able to fill a select number of seats that remain empty, approximately 15 minutes before the start of the show. Rush tickets are $45 for premium shows and $25 for regular shows.
TIFF recommends arriving in a rush line no earlier than 60 minutes before the show, however, being in a rush line does not guarantee a ticket as rush is on a first-come, first-served basis.
HOW CAN I WATCH CELEBRITIES?
TIFF has dedicated “Fan Zones” located in David Pecaut Square to allow the public to view red carpet appearances for film screenings at the King Street venue. Fans can line up for these areas before the show, with access granted two hours before a film starts on a first-come, first-served basis.
TIFF notes that Fan Zones have limited capacity and the lineup does not guarantee access. The organization says it also cannot guarantee that any celebrity will appear on the red carpet.
Sandi Leung, a 29-year-old accountant at Live Nation, is a self-proclaimed celebrity selfie hound outside of her day job.
Leung, who regularly attends TIFF and other high-profile events in the city, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview that she sometimes puts in 12-hour days during the festival, hoping to get a coveted photo on the red carpet. She says she has collected over a thousand celebrity selfies so far.
For those attending Fan Zones hoping to snap a photo with a celebrity, Leung said they should plan ahead to decide which red carpet they want to attend. Once settled in, she suggests arriving well in advance of being granted access to the Fan Zone—three to four hours, depending on the movie’s popularity.
Leung also suggests wearing comfortable clothes and dress for the weather, as fans can wait in line for hours before the stars arrive. She added that having a full phone battery and a portable charger is a must.
“You don’t want your phone to die when you’re in the middle of taking a selfie on the red carpet,” she said. “I’ve seen that happen once before with a girl next to me.”
Leung said fans should be mindful of their manners when asking for photos on the red carpet.
“When you ask for a selfie, be polite when you ask, be polite. Don’t be aggressive. If they say no, they mean no,” she said.
Regardless of whether a celebrity selfie is taken, Leung said it’s important for fans to remember to enjoy the experience.
“A lot of times you lose yourself in the process … it gets kind of competitive, and you’re really focused on getting things done and you’re not enjoying it. So definitely remind yourself to have fun,” she said.