Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Kirsten Dunst – these are just SOME of the big names expected to be in town for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)! This festival has grown significantly from its humble beginnings in 1976 to now being arguably the most influential film festival in North America, if not the world. If you’re new to the world of TIFF the whole experience can be overwhelming, so I’m going to give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your TIFF experience!

What’s the big deal?

It’s not just actors, actresses, or directors that you will see. Many stars from other professions also come to town to experience the festival or because they are involved in a related project. For example Steve Nash, Canada’s own prodigal basketball son, was here in 2010 promoting his film “Into the Wind”.

Celebrities are a big part of the fanfare around TIFF. But another important factor driving the growth of the Festival is the sheer number of high-quality films that premiere there. Some recent films screened at TIFF which went on to either experience commercial success or win major awards include “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and “Charles” (2004).

Another great part of the Festival are the film-watchers—I absolutely love their passion! This is especially true for the “Midnight Madness” movies, which involves one film being screened at midnight, every day of the festival. Everything about these movie screenings are amazing – from the in-your-face crowds to the uniqueness of the films. If you like scary, gory, or just weird movies – you’ll want to see at least one of these movies!

HELP! Which movies do I pick?

This is arguably the most difficult part of the whole experience – there’s just too many good movies to choose from. I was just in this dilemma a few days ago and here are my suggestions for narrowing down your own list:

1. Go through the entire selection of films playing at TIFF and make a list of all the movies you want to see – I usually end up with 40-50.
2. Filter out the list based on your schedule and availability – thank goodness for this step!
3. Go through various “expert” websites to see which movies have a lot of buzz around them and to get their feedback on worthy films to watch. These websites include blogTO, The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
4. Finally, check out which films are scheduled for wide-release after the festival and consider crossing those off your list. You will likely be able to see these films after TIFF, but there are many films that you will only be able to access at the festival. The principle of “scarcity” triumphs here.

How to get tickets?

There are several ways to get your hands on tickets. The first is obviously through the TIFF. You need to make sure that you order them early, especially the popular 10-ticket Flex Pack that I purchased. I recommend that first-timers split packages with one or more friends to make it more affordable and to give yourselves potential partners to attend movies with. The additional benefit is that you get a small dose of what TIFF has to offer without having to commit to buying an entire package. Another way is to scour websites like Craigslist or Kijiji for people selling tickets last-minute, or even complete packages. You’ll find good deals!

Don’t Forget!

• Bring a camera – you don’t want to run into your favourite star and have no proof!
• Have a little patience – if you want good seats, expect to be waiting in line for at least 1.5-2 hours BEFORE the movie begins. This can be even longer for high-profile movies!
• Celebrity-hunting – there are certain celebrity hot-spots in Yorkville and the entertainment district. These spots do change so some research is required to ensure that you don’t miss out on the celeb sightings. I have a friend who used to sit in the coffee shops in Yorkville for hours waiting for George Clooney. True story!
• Blackberry People’s Choice Award– if you want to get a free dose of the TIFF experience, check out the free screening of the movie that wins this award on the last day of the festival.

– Aravinthan Ehamparam
– Image courtesy of The Globe and Mail