Welcome to the 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF is very different this year, with physically distanced in-cinema experiences, at-home viewing, and drive-in movie screenings. It’s a Festival that has adapted for the moment we’re in — but great storytelling is to be continued. We are proud of this Festival and excited to bring it to you.
To help you navigate the Festival, we’ve put together a list of key changes and dates.
Our How to Festival guide provides an at-a-glance overview of how to buy tickets, our physical and digital venues, and tips to make the most of your Festival experience.
For more in-depth information, please visit our Help Centre.
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization. Your participation and love of film helps TIFF to continue sharing great stories and moments during the Festival and year-round. Thank you.
Highlights of key changes
More information on these changes is available in the sections below.
Box Office Hours
TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King St. W.
September 8 – 9: 10am–6pm
September 10 – 19: 12pm–9pm (or 1 hour before the first screening)
Call Centre, 416-599-2033 (Toll-free: 1-888-258-8433)
August 24 – September 9: 10am–6pm
September 10 – 19: 10am–10pm
How do I buy tickets?
This year we are not offering Ticket Packages. Instead, individual tickets will be available to purchase beginning on your designated on-sale day, or during the Festival. There will be no RUSH ticketing at in-person venues for Festival 2020.
From August 28 to September 9, tickets can be purchased for all in-cinema, drive-in, digital, and virtual live events on TIFF Account Manager. Sales for digital screenings are closed between September 7 and 9. Please see “Key Dates” (above) to review when you are eligible to purchase tickets. During the Festival (September 10–19), tickets will be available for purchase on your TIFF Account Manager for all in-cinema, drive-in, or virtual live events, and tickets for digital screenings must be purchased directly on Bell Digital Cinema.
Tickets will only be available for purchase online and over the phone between August 28 and September 9. From September 8 to 19 ticket sales will continue online and over the phone, and the box office will open at TIFF Bell Lightbox to facilitate will-call pickups for in-cinema or drive-in screenings.
How much do tickets cost?
Ticket prices for TIFF 2020 are as follows:
In-Cinema Screenings (TIFF Bell Lightbox)
Digital Screenings (Bell Digital Cinema)
Drive-in Screenings (Visa Skyline Drive-In at CityView and RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place)
Open-Air Cinema Screenings (West Island Open Air Cinema at Ontario Place)
Premium screenings apply to all films included in our Gala and Special Presentation programmes.
Prices for virtual live events will be announced at a later date.
How do I access my tickets?
In-Person Events:
The health and safety of our patrons is our top priority, so we encourage you to utilize mobile ticketing to reduce crowding at our in-person box office.
Your purchase confirmation email is NOT your ticket. Please select one of the following options to access your in-cinema or drive-in tickets:
Mobile tickets:
Use the email associated with your TIFF Account to log in. Tickets can be scanned directly from your Account Manager, or added to your mobile wallet. You may also screenshot your tickets and access them from your device’s photo album.
Will Call:
Tickets can be picked up from TIFF Bell Lightbox September 8–19. Drive-in venues will not have a physical box office, and tickets must be picked up from the Lightbox prior to your event if you have selected the will-call option. To retrieve your tickets, bring a copy (printed or mobile) of the order confirmation, or a piece of photo ID.
Digital Events:
Digital screenings added to your Bell Digital Cinema account by September 9. An account will be created if you do not have one, using the email address associated with your purchase. If you already have a digital TIFF Bell Lightbox account, you are already set up.
Once the Festival begins, you can access your selected films by visiting “My Library” from the Bell Digital Cinema home screen, or by visiting the home screen of the Bell Digital Cinema app. Films will become available to watch on different days, and you will have 24 hours to watch them once they go live. Please review the schedule prior to making your purchases to ensure you have enough time to watch your selected titles.
Virtual live events are available on a separate platform, and ticket holders will receive a direct link to join the event prior to the start time.
How do I access a ticket pre-sale?
This year, TIFF Members will have access to ticket pre-sales between August 28 and September 3, based on Membership level.
Visa Infinite cardholders will receive an advance window to purchase individual tickets online. Visa will reach out to eligible individuals directly with more information.
TIFF Insiders can purchase individual tickets before the public, but after TIFF Members. Become an Insider by signing up for The Weekly e-newsletter.
How do I exchange my tickets?
Tickets for all events can be exchanged through your TIFF Account Manager starting August 28. You cannot exchange tickets across different platforms. Tickets for digital screenings cannot be exchanged after September 6.
To exchange your tickets, please follow the steps below:
PLEASE NOTE: You must have Flash Player enabled on your browser to successfully exchange your seats.
Can I transfer tickets to a friend?
To transfer your tickets, please follow the steps below:
If your recipient does not accept your offer, then they will not be able to use your tickets. You can cancel the offer, or you can wait for it to expire two hours before the event start time.
Can I get a refund?
If you are no longer able to attend an in-person or drive-in event within two hours of your screening’s start time, please contact us at customerrelations@tiff.net. All sales for digital screenings or virtual live events are final; refunds are not permitted. Tickets for digital screenings cannot be exchanged after September 6. Tickets are valid only for the event for which they are issued, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
What if I require accessible/companion seating?
All TIFF screenings offer accessible seating. Seating is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more detailed information regarding venue and screening accessibility, please visit tiff.net/accessibility. To find in-person or drive-in screenings with closed-captioning (CC) and/or descriptive sound (DS), please visit tiff.net/calendar and open the drop-down menu labelled “Accessibility” and select the appropriate filter.
Wheelchair-accessible tickets cannot be purchased online and must be reserved over the phone during pre-sales. If you require assistance or if you require an additional complimentary ticket for your companion, please contact our Call Centre (1-888-258-8433) open 10am - 6pm from August 24 - September 9, and 10am - 10pm from September 10 - 20.
If you have an accessibility consideration that limits your ability to stand in line, please see “What are lobby passes?” below.
PLEASE NOTE: Seating may be limited and restricted to the existing floor plan of each venue. Though we do our best to accommodate every request, seating cannot be guaranteed.
What if there are no tickets available?
When a screening no longer has available tickets, it is referred to as “off-sale.” As inventory may fluctuate between being on and off-sale due to exchanges, we recommend checking tiff.net and digital.tiff.net regularly for newly available tickets. Please check tiff.net/available to see a list of films with remaining tickets throughout the Festival. Our website also offers recommended alternatives in the event that the film you would like to see is off-sale.
Is there a limit to the number of tickets I can purchase?
In order to ensure a fair distribution of tickets during the Festival, each visitor may only purchase a maximum of two tickets per account, per each event. This limit exists for Members and non-Members. All in-cinema screenings have assigned seating, and due to social distance spacing, you must purchase single seats or a pair. Please note: we are unable to split paired seats. If there are no more single seats available, you must purchase the pair.
You only require one ticket to access a drive-in screening, watch a digital screening or virtual live event. You can purchase and transfer an additional ticket to a friend. The last date to transfer a ticket for a digital screening is September 6 at 6pm.
Can I make a group booking?
Those interested in purchasing tickets for groups of 20 or more for any in-person screenings may do so beginning September 5, exclusively through our Festival Call Centre (1-888-258-8433, open 10am to 6pm). Group bookings cannot be accommodated before this date. Tickets are subject to availability. If you are interested in purchasing tickets to a Festival screening for the purpose of corporate hosting, we recommend that you reach out to sponsorship@tiff.net for further assistance.
Group sales will not be available for digital events.
What payment methods do you accept?
TIFF prefers Visa, but we accept all major credit cards. Debit is also accepted for in-person purchases at TIFF Bell Lightbox. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to limit your cash purchases.
Will any additional fees be added to my purchase?
All service fees and taxes are included on purchases made on tiff.net. Prices listed on digital.tiff.net do not include tax, and this will be added onto your total at checkout. There are no exchange or refund fees.
How do I login to or create an account?
Tickets will be available to purchase on TIFF Account Manager between August 28 and September 19. Please note, there will be no sales for digital screenings between September 7 and 9.
To sign in or create an account on TIFF Account Manager please follow these steps:
From September 10 you can login to Bell Digital Cinema to watch digital screenings you pre-purchased, or rent more titles.
Please note, Bell Digital Cinema is not the same as your TIFF Account Manager. You are required to create a new account. We recommend using the same email addresses for both accounts. If you already have an account on digital TIFF Bell Lightbox, you do not need to create a new one.
To sign in or create an account on Bell Digital Cinema, please follow these steps:
I can't login, how do I reset my password?
To reset your TIFF Account Manager password please follow these steps:
To reset your digital TIFF Bell Lightbox password please follow these steps:
When should I arrive for my screening?
Please arrive no earlier than one hour prior to your screening. To reduce crowding, there will be no indoor lineups. Lineups will remain outdoors, rain or shine, so please come prepared for any inclement weather. If you have an accessibility concern that limits your ability to stand in a line, please see “What are lobby passes?” below.
PLEASE NOTE: All Festival screenings and events will start promptly at the scheduled start time. Latecomers will be admitted at the discretion of the Front-of-House staff. Latecomers not admitted will not be issued a refund.
What are lobby passes?
New this year: We are no longer offering physical Lobby Passes. Instead, they will be available to download to your mobile device.
If you have an accessibility consideration that limits your ability to stand in line, we are pleased to offer complimentary Lobby Passes, which can be used at any in-person screening or event. Access to the designated waiting area is granted to you and your companion (if required) upon presentation of a Lobby Pass to a Front-of-House Representative, along with a valid ticket.
To request a Lobby Pass, you can fill out this form or reach out to customerrelations@tiff.net. Your Lobby Pass will be added to your TIFF Account Manager by September 10 and can be accessed the same way as a mobile ticket.
Can children and/or youth attend the Festival?
Parents must purchase a ticket for their child, and tickets are subject to regular Festival pricing. Children under the age of two do not require a ticket if they are sharing a seat with an adult.
What safety precautions is TIFF taking for in-cinema events?
TIFF has been working closely with the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, and public health officials since March 2020 on the safe execution of the Festival. TIFF's number-one priority is the health and well-being of Festival audiences, residents of the entire community and our staff. All decisions undertaken have been in keeping with public gathering by-laws set forward by Provincial and City public health authorities since the start of festival planning.
Guests of all in-person events are asked to: (a) stay home if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, (b) self-report positive COVID-19 testing, and (c) adhere to all safety guidelines as set out by government health officials. You must follow all posted instructions while attending in-person events.
For your safety, comfort and peace-of-mind, TIFF has made the decision to close TIFF Bell Lightbox concession stands, thereby eliminating this as a point of contact between patrons and staff. As no food or beverage is being consumed, masks or face coverings must be worn at all times by staff and patrons when moving through TIFF Bell Lightbox and when seated in the cinema. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
All in-person events have assigned seating to accommodate social distance spacing. TIFF has ensured a 2-metre circumference exists for patrons while seated with an empty row and a minimum of three open seats between them and other patrons. TIFF is adhering to the 50-seat maximum per cinema guideline set for all local movie theatres and has reduced capacity in its cinemas from 530 to 50 seats in Cinema 1, 358 to 50 seats in Cinema 2, and 152 to 34 seats in Cinema 4.
In TIFF Bell Lightbox, employees will monitor the atrium, the escalators and elevators to encourage traffic flow. Doors to the cinemas will remain open so that no line ups will form.
To help prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19, TIFF is committed to:
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. By attending TIFF, you voluntarily assume all risks related to the exposure to COVID-19 and agree that you will not hold TIFF liable for any illness that may result.
Additionally, TIFF has partnered with Medcan, a global health care leader providing medical expertise, consultation, and health inspiration to achieve its mission of helping people “Live Well for Life.” Based on the pillars of evidence-based care, exceptional client service, and the latest in technology, Medcan’s team of over 90 physicians and specialists support employee health care across the continuum of health, including its “Safe at Work System” helping organizations navigate the pandemic.
When and where can I view the Official Film Schedule?
The Official Film Schedule is available online at tiff.net/schedule on August 25 at 10am. Printed schedules are no longer available. There will be a live, downloadable CSV version of the schedule available online. The schedule will include screenings and events across all platforms.
How can I find out about any changes to my screening?
All screening changes (including date, time, and location) are noted on tiff.net/changes after our schedule goes live on August 25 at 10am. If you have purchased tickets to a screening that has been changed or cancelled, you will receive a notification email from our Customer Relations team.
Seating is only guaranteed until 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the screening. If late seating is disruptive, latecomers will not be admitted. Late seating is at the discretion of the venue staff.
To ensure the highest-quality experience for our audiences at TIFF Bell Lightbox, programming on Mondays is typically reduced. This provides technical and building teams with access required to conduct upgrades and improvements on equipment and cinemas. TIFF Bell Lightbox welcomes film lovers for full programming Tuesday through Sunday, with occasional New Release screenings and third-party bookings on Mondays.
Please visit our website and stay in the know with our up-to-date screening calendar at tiff.net/calendar. Our call centre remains open on Mondays to take your questions and facilitate ticket sales, or you can visit the Steve & Rashmi Gupta Box Office — open between 10am and 6pm on Monday, and between 10am and 10pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Our staff and Volunteers are here to ensure the best possible Festival experience for all; Toronto International Film Festival Inc. ("TIFF Inc.") will not tolerate mistreatment of any kind towards its staff or Volunteers and will take measures accordingly. TIFF Inc. reserves the right to refuse admission to and/or expel from the premises, without refund, any person whose presence or conduct is deemed objectionable.
Rush tickets are subject to availability and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the discretion of venue staff. Customers are limited to holding space in rush lines for themselves and one other person. Please inform the Festival staff managing the rush line if you are holding a place for another individual.
All electronic devices must be silenced and stowed away during public screenings. Bags are subject to inspection.
Please do not leave empty seats in the middle of the row at general admission houses; rush seating is less disruptive to the audience if empty seats are available close to the aisles. Seats cannot be saved. Due to venue fire codes, sitting in the aisles or standing at the back of the venue is not permitted.
All cinema and lobby areas will be cleared following each screening.
Film run times, as listed in the Official Film Schedule and the Festival Programme Book, represent the best available information at press time. Run times are approximate and don't include time for intros or Q&As. Screenings and schedules are subject to change without notice. Check the Official Film Schedule for the most up-to-date information.
All Festival venues are wheelchair accessible. If you require accessible or companion seating, or other accessibility services, please contact the box office in advance by calling 416-599-2033 or 1-888-599-8433 (toll-free) so that we can ensure your needs are met.
Cameras and recording devices are strictly prohibited during screenings. Screenings will be monitored for unauthorized recording. It is illegal to make a copy of a film or part of a film without permission of the copyright owner. TIFF Inc. reserves the right to undertake anti-piracy measures and eject any person who is recording or photographing without authorization from TIFF Inc., and to report any unauthorized recording to law enforcement, which may subject that person to criminal and civil liability.
TIFF Inc. reserves the right to film or record its events and activities for its own purposes. All media requests to shoot onstage activity must be pre-approved by the TIFF Communications Department.
Tickets may not be used as prizes or contest giveaways, or for fundraising, promotional, or advertising purposes, without express written consent from Toronto International Film Festival Inc. ("TIFF Inc."). Such use will invalidate tickets.
By using a ticket to enter a Festival venue, the ticket holder agrees to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in the event venue, and to the publication, reproduction, sales use, distribution, and broadcast of all photographs, video, or other recordings of the ticket holder's voice or likeness without further notice or compensation in any publicity, advertisement, or other publication carried out by, or on behalf of, TIFF Inc. in perpetuity in any manner and media whatsoever, including print, broadcast, or digital.
By using a ticket to attend Festival screenings and events, the user waives and releases TIFF Inc. from all claims he/she/they may have against TIFF Inc. for any loss, damage, injury, liability, or expense he/she/they may suffer, arising from his/her/their presence at the event venue due to any reason whatsoever, including those arising from personal injury, property loss/damage, or death.
Cameras and recording devices are strictly prohibited during screenings. Screenings will be monitored for unauthorized recording. It is illegal to make a copy of a film or part of a film without permission of the copyright owner. Toronto International Film Festival Inc. ("TIFF Inc.") reserves the right to undertake anti-piracy measures and eject any person who is recording or photographing without authorization from TIFF Inc., and to report any unauthorized recording to law enforcement, which may subject that person to criminal and civil liability.
TIFF Inc. reserves the right to film or record its events and activities for its own purposes.
All electronic devices must be silenced and stowed away during public screenings. Bags are subject to inspection.
Our staff and Volunteers are here to ensure the best possible experience for all; Toronto International Film Festival Inc. ("TIFF Inc.") will not tolerate mistreatment of any kind towards its staff or Volunteers and will take measures accordingly. TIFF Inc. reserves the right to refuse admission to and/or expel from the premises, without refund, any person whose presence or conduct is deemed objectionable.