From the Hollywood all-star cast in the Broadway adaptation of Dear, Evan Hansen to the chilling psycho-thriller Last Night In Soho with Anya Taylor-Joy, there's something for everyone's movie tastes. Here is what you need to know before tickets go on sale.
What's going to be different this year?
In an announcement today, August 23, TIFF touched on what their vaccine policies will be and what festival-goers can expect at this year's event.
Instead of printed passes, attendees will have to show digital tickets from their phones. Rush tickets, which are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the discretion of venue staff, will also not be available this year.
There will be no concessions sold at most of TIFF's venues this year, with the exception of the festival's drive-in venues.
"As a result of the opening of the border and increased capacities in cinemas in Ontario, TIFF has added to its list of venues to accommodate a number of additional in-person Public and Press & Industry screenings," TIFF announced.
Press & Industry screenings will be held at the Scotiabank Theatre and TIFF Bell Lightbox, and public in-person screenings will have limited Press & Industry access. Public digital screenings will only be available to Canadian audiences.
How do I buy tickets and when are they on sale?
Anyone interested in hitting up TIFF 2021 can buy tickets online, and there are a variety of start dates for when certain folks can grab theirs.
Those with a TIFF membership will have priority when it comes to buying tickets first. Leadership members can buy their tickets on August 26, while Platinum and Gold members can buy individual tickets for both in-person and digital events starting August 28. Silver and Bronze members will be able to buy tickets on August 29.
TIFF members in the Contributor's Circle and Members 365 can buy tickets on September 4, and then the rest of the general public can finally get theirs on September 6.
What kind of tickets are there and how much do they cost?
There are in-person, outdoor, drive-in, and digital screenings this year, and tickets are priced differently for them all.
Regular in-person screenings at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Cinesphere Theatre at Ontario Place, and Scotiabank Theatre, will cost $25. Premium screenings will cost $40. When switched to online viewings, regular screenings will be $19 and premium screenings will come out to $26.
Drive-in viewings at Ontario Place Village, the Visa Skyline Drive-in, the RBC Lakeside Drive-In, and the West Island Open Air Cinema will range from $49 to $69 per car, depending on the number of people in the vehicle watching the film. Those opting for lawn access at these venues will pay $38 for two people.
What are TIFF's vaccine policies?
All festival staff, audience members, and visitors coming into any of the festival venues will have to show proof of their fully vaccinated status, or provide proof that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within the last 48 hours.
Those visiting from outside Canada will need to provide COVID-19-related information electronically through the ArriveCAN app prior to arrival in Canada, as well as submit a quarantine plan in case border agents determine they do not meet the necessary requirements. They must be asymptomatic upon arrival and willing to participate in random COVID-19 testing.
"TIFF has taken great care and consideration in implementing these TIFF-specific protocols to mitigate risk to audiences and guests attending TIFF," Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, TIFF's co-heads, said in the announcement. "We have relied on the municipal and provincial medical direction and advice on rapid testing, and we expecting this will provide another level of clarity and comfort for all 2021 festival-goers."
There will also be other COVID-19 safety measures at this year's festival. Masks will be mandatory at all venues and those who can't wear masks due to health reasons will be provided with a face shield. If they refuse to wear the face shield, they will be denied entry into the festival and will receive a refund for their ticket.
