Events

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Our space is open to your imagination

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Located at King and John Streets in the heart of the Entertainment District, TIFF Bell Lightbox is home to the Toronto International Film Festival® and is the premier meeting place for innovative event planners and their delegates, film industry professionals, educators, and film lovers from around the globe.

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Unique Spaces

We have various event spaces to suit your accommodations. See our floor plans for more information.


List

Interior shot of The Lab with white couches and green cushions

The Lab

Max. capacity is 40 - The Lab is a flexible event space that can be used for any type of event. The floor-to-ceiling windows have a screen that can be lowered for full privacy or raised to let in natural daylight.

Interior shot of The Green Room with a long wooden table and green chairs around it

The Green Room

Max. capacity is 60 - A quiet space to relax. This is the perfect venue for VIP cocktail receptions or a Production Office. The space includes furnishings provided by Roots, ensuite washrooms, a 40" programmable screen, a 5.1 audio system, a projector and a drop-down screen.

Interior shot of Varda looking towards a classic bar and lounge seating all around

Varda Café-Bar

Max. capacity is 85 - A modern lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the corner of King and John Streets. The room—which has audio capabilities and a plasma screen—is an ideal space for a range of social, business and academic events. Learn More

Interior shot of TIFF Founders Lounge with tables and chairs

TIFF Founders Lounge

Max. capacity is 120 - Spectacular views of King Street and downtown Toronto. Its elegant decor, seating areas and bar create the perfect atmosphere for cocktail receptions and other events for mixing and mingling with colleagues, guests or fellow cinephiles. Catered exclusively by Oliver & Bonacini.

Interior shot of the Learning Studios with podium, screens and desks

RBC Learning Studios (A+B)

Max. capacity is 94 - Perfect for team building events, workshops, educational presentations and staff meetings. Each studio accommodates up to 47 people, and can be set up in various styles — including classroom, theatre, cluster conference and U-shape. The rooms feature built-in projectors, screens, a podium and microphones.

Cinemas

The screen and projector within the cinema are included in your rental. Additional audio-visual equipment and staffing are available here.

Learn more about screening formats

Screening Formats

This grid outlines the wide range of exhibition formats that we can support in our cinemas. By clarifying the terminology and concerns associated with certain types of content, we strive to ensure that your screening experience is presented flawlessly and to the highest standards possible.

All content must be received 48 hours in advance of screening/rehearsal/tech-check or a late payment charge will be applied to the final invoice.

 
Film
Tape
Digital Cinema (DCP)
Video
 
16mm
35mm
70mm
Betacam (SP, Digital)*
HDCAM, HDCAM-SR
HDV DVCAM MiniDV*
2k
4k
3D
HFR
Video File
Bluray
Cinema 1
 
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Cinema 2
 
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Cinema 3
 
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Cinema 4
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Cinema 5
 
 
 
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Cinema 6
 
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Atrium Wall
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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* Content should ideally only be delivered in these tape formats if it already exists in this format and an HD version does not exist in another format

List

Interior shot of Viola Desmond Cinema with rows of empty red seats

Viola Desmond Cinema
(Cinema 1)

Seats 523 - The grandest of our theatres. An ideal space for premieres, red-carpet events and awards presentations, this theatre creates the sense of a great movie palace. This cinema can accommodate 3D, 35mm, 70mm and digital screenings.

Interior shot of Cinema 2 with rows of empty seats

Cinema 2

Seats 353 - A similar palatial feel and many of the same features as Cinema 1, including the ability to accommodate 3D films. This theatre is not only a great space for a screening, it’s also intimate enough for effective presentations.

Interior shot of Cinema 3 with rows of empty seats

Piers Handling Cinema
(Cinema 3)

Seats 221 - The most intimate of our large-scale theatres, Cinema 3 provides an elegant event space for smaller presentations. The stage is designed to accommodate a piano – ideal for musical accompaniment.

Interior shot of Cinema 4 with rows of empty seats

The Paul & Leah Atkinson Family Cinema
(Cinema 4)

Seats 150 - Like all TIFF Bell Lightbox cinemas, Cinema 4 boasts excellent sightlines. This is the perfect venue for an innovative lecture, conversation series, private screening, or awards presentation.

Interior shot of Cinema 5 with rows of empty seats

The NBCUniversal Cinema
(Cinema 5)

Seats 45 - This multi-purpose, 965 square-foot studio cinema features retractable seats and can be used for screenings and as a production space for filming and workshops.

Interior shot of Cinema 6 with rows of empty seats

The Stanislaus Shibinsky Cinema
(Cinema 6)

Seats 41 - A unique and intimate theatre space located on the fifth floor, ideal for personal or team film screenings, or to showcase a new product to top executives.

Learning Studios

Our Learning Studios are equipped with a projector, screen, laptop hookup and spider phone.

Empty podium and chairs in the Learning Studio

RBC Learning Studios (A+B)

Max. capacity is 94

Perfect for team building events, workshops, educational presentations and staff meetings. Each studio accommodates up to 47 people, and can be set up in various styles — including classroom, theatre, cluster conference and U-shape. The rooms feature built-in projectors, screens, a podium and microphones.

List

Parking

Underground parking is available at TIFF Bell Lightbox and is operated independently by Precise Park, accessible on Widmer Street at an approximate rate of $18 per day. Other parking lots and street parking are available. Valet parking can be arranged for your event also.

Rates + Services

Catering Package

Additional Details:


WiFi

Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the whole building. If you require a dedicated connection, we can provide one for you in your event space, and can also rename the WiFi network to match your event or company name so that your guests can access it more easily. Please note that these services are set at an additional cost.

Equipment

We have a dedicated loading dock at the rear of the building which clients can access on Widmer Street to load in for their event. Each cinema and boardroom can be accessed by the freight elevator with no steps involved.

Lead Time

To book a cinema, we need as much time as possible: ideally 2 months prior to the date. Bookings are also dependant on what other festivals we have taking place in the building at that time. For smaller boardroom meetings, we can generally accommodate a booking with 4 weeks prior notice. However, we encourage you to inquire about availability and hope to accommodate any last minute requests.

Signage

If your event is taking place within one of the cinemas, we can promote the name of your event on the plasma screens by the elevators and the plasma screen outside of the cinema you rented for your event time. We can supply directional signage in the main lobby and on the floor of your event; should you wish to bring your own, you are limited to TWO pieces stationed outside of your rented event space. Please note that any display of event sponsors will need to be approved prior to being placed in the public areas.

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