Accessibility at TIFF
Here's how we're making it easier to discover films with us.
TIFF strives to be accessible to all our audiences. We work closely with our accessibility stakeholders to help inform best accessibility practices and to provide welcoming and inclusive film-going experiences.
See TIFF’s Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2022–2026 to learn more about TIFF’s commitments.
We encourage you to review the below information in order to plan your visit in advance and to make the most of your visit and film-going experience.
If you require any of the below information in a different format, please reach out to TIFF’s Call Centre, open Tuesday to Sunday 12pm–5pm, at 416-599-2033 or toll-free at 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
How we’re making TIFF Lightbox more accessible
Accessible Seating
All TIFF screenings offer accessible seating. We make every effort to accommodate accessibility and support person seating requests; however, seating is limited and subject to availability.
To book accessible seating, please call TIFF Customer Relations , open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm–5pm, at 416-599-2033 or toll-free at 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net. This allows our team to discuss your seating requirements and identify available options that best support your needs.
Support Person Seating
Support persons are welcome at all TIFF events. Support persons will not be charged for a ticket, but must have a ticket to enter the event. If you require accessible seating or seating for your support person, please contact TIFF Customer Relations in advance. Our team will discuss your seating requirements and identify the available seating options that best support your needs.
Please call our Call Centre, open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm–5pm, at 416-599-2033 or toll-free at 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
Barrier-free Physical Access
There may be lineups at Box Office, Concessions, or as you enter our cinemas. If you are unable to wait in line, please speak to a TIFF Front of House staff member for assistance.
Lobby Passes are available for the Festival; see page 4 of the TIFF Festival Venue Accessibility Guide (PDF | Word) for more details.
Barrier-free washrooms are also available on every level of our building.
Assistive Devices and Features
Accessibility features we offer for select films include: , , and , and .
Assisted Listening
Who is it for? Those with hearing loss.How does it work? Amplifies the film sound through headphones.
What device is used? Wireless receiver with earbud, headphone, or headset. Neck loop option available if requested.
When can it be used? Assisted Listening is available for all films and all venues.
Audio Description
Who is it for? Blind and partially sighted people.How does it work? Narrates description of action on the screen through headphones.
What device is used? Wireless receiver (and headphones, if requested), which can be requested at Box Office or from Front of House staff.
Which content has audio description? See these Year-round and Festival films to learn which content is available with audio description, or contact Customer Relations through TIFF's Call Centre at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
Closed Captions
Who is it for? Deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing.How does it work? Displays dialogue and audio cues as text on personal device.
What device is used? Personal viewing device, which can be requested at the Steve & Rashmi Gupta Box Office or from Front of House staff.
Which content has closed captions? See these Year-round and Festival films to learn which content is available with closed captions, or contact Customer Relations through TIFF's Call Centre at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
TIFF assumes no liability or responsibility for any unanticipated technical issues, equipment malfunctions, or operational failures during a screening.
Open Captions
Who is it for? Deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing.How does it work? Displays dialogue and audio cues as text onscreen.
What device is used? None. Open captions are viewable directly on the screen.
Which content has open captions? See these Year-round and Festival films to learn which content is available with open captions or contact Customer Relations through TIFF's Call Centre at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
To access assistive devices, visit the Box Office at the venue of your screening. Please note, a valid piece of ID may be required.
Refer to the following for an up-to-date list of films with: audio description, closed captions and open captions..
Service and Support Animals
Guide dogs and service animals are welcome in all public spaces at TIFF Lightbox, including the cinemas. Emotional support animals will be permitted on a discretionary basis. Front of House staff may request that you provide documentation from a regulated health professional confirming the animal is required as per the AODA’s Customer Service Standards. Please let Front of House staff know if your service animal needs water or any assistance.
Content Advisories
Content Advisories are intended to help inform audiences about content they may appreciate knowing about prior to viewing. They are listed, where applicable, for all Festival and year-round programming. You can find a list of applicable content advisories on each film page, directly beneath the film synopsis and above the genre tags.
Relaxed Screenings
Relaxed screenings offer an informal and more sensory-friendly environment, and are open to anyone who may benefit from them, including neurodivergent audience members. When scheduled, features of the screening such as lighting and volume levels will be listed in advance on the film page.
Quiet Spaces and Sensory Bags
During the Festival, a designated Quiet Space is available in Meeting Room 1 on the fourth floor of TIFF Lightbox. KultureCity Sensory Bags with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards are available at TIFF Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatre via the Box Office.
TIFF has a team focused on having Festival venues that everyone can access. The team work with events coordinators, designers, and others across the company to help ensure that our venues are utilized with accessibility in mind.
For more detailed information, please refer to:
TIFF General Festival Accessibility Guide (PDF | Word) to learn more about general access and visitor accommodations available at the Festival
Individual Venue Guides which provide specifics such as travel options, accessible restrooms, door measurements, and more
TIFF Lightbox & Festival Venue Accessibility Grid (PDF), a one page checklist of accessibility features and accommodations by venue
A Lobby Pass grants a Festival-goer and their support persons (if applicable) access to a designated waiting area, available at every indoor Festival venue. Lobby Passes can be requested from now until the end of the Festival by anyone who has an accessibility consideration that limits their ability to stand in a lineup at a venue. Access to the designated waiting area is granted to the passholder and their support person upon the presentation of a Lobby Pass and a valid ticket or Official Pass (Market, Media, Guest) to a TIFF Front of House representative. The nature of the waiting areas vary by venue, and space may be limited.
Please note:
- Lobby passes are non-transferrable and belong solely to the designated recipient. You cannot hand your pass to a companion or anyone else to wait in line for you.
- Holding a lobby pass does not guarantee admission to Press & Market screenings or rush ticketing lines.
- If you do not have a Lobby Pass and are unable to wait in a traditional queue due to an accessibility-related need, please speak with a TIFF Front of House representative for assistance.
- Lobby Passes are provided to support accessibility needs. Misuse of a Lobby Pass may result in the pass and event access being revoked in accordance with TIFF's Code of Conduct.
Festival ticket holders can request a Lobby Pass through TIFF's Customer Relations at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net.
All TIFF screenings offer accessible seating. We make every effort to accommodate accessibility and support person seating requests; however, seating is limited and subject to availability.
Please note: A support person is a person supporting a guest with accessibility needs during their visit to the cinema, such as assistance with navigation, communication, seating, or personal care. Support persons will not be charged for a ticket, but must have one to enter the event.
Guests requiring accessible or support person seating must contact TIFF Customer Relations in advance through TIFF's Call Centre at 416-599-2033 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net. This allows our team to discuss your seating requirements and identify available options that best support your needs.
TIFF strives to be accessible to all our patrons and to offer as many films as possible with closed captions, open captions, or audio description.
To find in-person screenings with accessible options, visit Festival screenings or year-round screenings calendar, then open the “Accessibility” filter and select your preference.
You can also browse films with closed captions, open captions, or audio description.
Alternatively, visit Customer Relations in person at our Box Office at 350 King Street West. Please note that while open caption screenings will be marked as such at the time of the on-sale, audio description and closed captions will be confirmed only once the films are delivered to TIFF and on a rolling basis in the lead-up to the Festival.
All TIFF screenings offer accessible seating. We make every effort to accommodate accessibility and support person seating requests; however, seating is limited and subject to availability.
Guests requiring accessibility accommodations must contact TIFF Customer Relations in advance through TIFF's Call Centre at 416-599-2023 or 1-888-258-8433 or email customerrelations@tiff.net. This allows our team to discuss your access requirements and identify available options that best support your needs.
At TIFF Lightbox, other accessible building facilities include:
- Escalators to each level with publicly accessible cinemas
- Lobby elevators with access to all levels
- Barrier-free washroom facilities on each level Accessibility features we offer for select films include: assisted listening, audio description, closed captions, and open captions.
For accessibility information at other Festival venues, please download the Venue Accessibility & Visual Guides in either PDF or Word formats above.
We recognize that accessibility needs may not always be known in advance. If you require assistance during your visit and have not arranged accommodations ahead of time, please speak with a TIFF Front of House representative and we will do our best to support you.