This was only my second year going to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), but even in that short number of years I’ve learned quite a bit on how to survive the madness that is one of the biggest film festivals in the world. A lot of it is common sense, but it always surprises me to see people at these kind of events who don’t seem to be remotely prepared for them. That’s why I decided to share my five main survival tips for anyone who’s thinking about attending a film festival.
1. Be prepared to make a choice: stargazing or movie watching.
It may not be as easy a choice as you think. Sure the stargazing at the red carpet is fun and you may luck out in getting an autograph or a picture with your favourite celebrity, but actually attending the movie has a few advantages as well.
Firstly you get to see a movie before it’s out in theatres, sometimes months ahead of time. Second, the actors and director more often than not are actually there in the theatre with you, something you don’t come across at your local multiplex. Lastly, because the actors and director are there for the premiere, there is a Q&A after the movie has screened, and if you’re lucky you get to ask a question!
So, yes, you will need to make a choice between the two, because as much as you may like to do both at the same time, it’s really difficult to manage, even when it’s more than just you attending. Therefore I recommend first looking over the movies listed for the festival even before the schedule comes out. That way you can decide on which ones you actually want to sit down to see, and which just have stars you’re interested in seeing. This will help some once the schedule does come out because then you’ll be able to know where you have to be on what days and times, and hopefully you won’t have any conflicts!
2. Get there early. REALLY early.
No matter whether you choose stargazing or movie watching, I highly recommend arriving at minimum an hour and a half before a movie premiere to be able to get a decent spot in line or near the red carpet. While wandering around I’ve even seen people showing up sometimes three hours ahead of time, and I’ve heard of one “TIFF superfan” who had waited around 13 HOURS just to meet one of her favorite actors!
3. Come prepared for the wait.
Whether you’re with others or on your own, you’ll need to be ready for anything.
Before you leave for the festival, check the weather. But even if it looks warm and sunny and you think you’ll be good with just a light jacket and comfortable shoes, I definitely suggest you think about the evenings and pack for a slightly cooler temperature as well. There was one night when I was waiting to get into a movie and the temperature went down so much that I had to wear a scarf and hat! And no matter if there is no call for rain, bring an umbrella with you because you never know when the weather will turn.
Each night when you get back to your room, make sure to charge your camera; you don’t want to risk the battery dying just when you get your chance for a photo!
Figure out where the closest toilets are, and if you’re on your own, make friends with someone else who’s waiting so you can have someone to hold your spot if you have to run off for a few minutes.
Another thing to organize before you go is snacks and water. Depending on how long you’re waiting, it’s always good to have a few different types of easily portable and non-perishable foods that will sustain your energy until you get the opportunity to sit down to a proper meal. I also can’t stress enough keeping hydrated with water, and not just on the hot days. Now before you point out that drinking a lot of water will make you run to the toilet often (which it can), if you sip rather than guzzle I find you won’t have to go so much. But the best thing I find about drinking water, especially in the evenings, is that it keeps me awake and alert much more than if I haven’t had enough.
4. Choose the right spot.
If you’re going to wait at the red carpet, obviously right at the barrier is the best place to be, but the ‘right spot’ isn’t just anywhere there. I’ve noticed that those who get the attention of the stars first tend to be right across from the entrance to the theater, so if you are able, try to position yourself close to there.
If you decide to actually go see the movie, first try to get in at the lower/orchestra level. Depending on how many rows have been marked as reserved, I recommend finding a seat near the middle of that level since that’s usually close to where they seat the cast and director. Also, if you’re nearer the front, you have a better chance of getting good pictures and being noticed to ask your question during the Q&A time.
5. Ask the right question.
Now you’re more likely to get to ask a question of a celebrity following the screening of the movie, but no matter of when it is, make sure it’s the right one.
What, you may ask, is the right question? Well, one thing I can say is, it’s not one that starts off with a cheesy pick-up line. I’ll give you an example from what I observed this year at TIFF.
I attended the premiere of Only Lovers Left Alive, which stars Tom Hiddleston as a vampire. After the movie was done and everyone was onstage for he tQ&A, one woman in the lower level got up to ask Tom her question. I was up in the balcony so I couldn’t hear questions very clearly all the time, but what I did catch of the start of this woman’s question was something to the effect of “if you were really a vampire, I’d let you bite me.” Tom smiled politely and laughed it off, but you could feel the entire room cringe as one, and I could only imagine how the woman must have felt in that moment. When the woman continued and asked her actual question about whether he’d read up on vampire lore, you could tell by the tremor in her voice that she was really nervous, and the crowd’s reaction probably hadn’t helped her nerves.
So, all this to say, as much you’d like to flirt with a celebrity, I recommend instead coming up with an intelligent question, because nothing impresses more than smarts. Save the cheesy pick-up lines for the bar. 😉
I hope these tips help you in your film festival adventures, but the most important tip I can give you is to remember to just have fun!
