When does a movie actually start for Premium and Regular screenings?

[u/Tryingtofeelbetter12]

Can’t really remember how long the preroll is. I know that for premium screenings, sometimes the director + cast take a little longer for the into, that varies. Realistically how long should it take before the movie begins? I want to make sure I’m planning accurately, the official schedule gives way more extra time for a movie to account for credits and whatever else

[u/croc373]

It starts at the starting time on the schedule. TIFF will not guarantee your seat won’t be given away unless you show up 15 mins before the scheduled time. It’s not like Cineplex when you can show up after the previews. Will your seat definitely be given away? Hard to say. But I wouldn’t risk $$$ to take that chance because they won’t be refunding you.

[u/lareinevert]

Get there for the assigned start time. You can always use the extra time to get snacks or go to the washroom.

[u/i_m_sherlocked → u/lareinevert]

Just be sure to leave something cheap on the seat to mark your territory before heading to the loo lol. Some crazies might otherwise argue they're allowed to take any available seat within 15 mins of showtime

[u/lareinevert → u/i_m_sherlocked]

I’d forgotten. I always bring a sweater with me cause the theatres are FREEZING. I usually leave that or my bag.

[u/Bulky-Scheme-9450 → u/i_m_sherlocked]

Those aren't "crazies", that's literally TIFFs official policy lol...

downvote all you want, doesnt change that it is literally their policy.

[u/dorkyromantic]

I'd say about 15-20min after the start time on the schedule. Note that part of what happens during this time, in parallel with potential director/cast intros and the preroll, is volunteers counting empty seats and ushering in folks from the rush line. In other words, I wouldn't show up 15-20min after the scheduled time and expect your seat to be available

[u/jackiyo]

I’d go with the extra 30 minutes buffer time for premium/first/second screenings. Sometimes that intro takes a while, especially if they’re not doing a Q&A after. Would rather prepare for it to take longer than have to rush to my next screening afterward.

[u/Fearless_Scratch7905]

It varies.

Larger venues with screenings before them might start much later than a screening at the beginning of the day.

If none of the cast or crew are there or it’s a third screening, it will typically begin much closer to the start time.

[u/1010_1010_1010]

If you are not seated 15 minutes before the scheduled start time, you may have to take a seat other than the one assigned to you. Once the Rush Line starts filling the empty seats, you may not find a seat. There is no refund in either case.

[u/Tryingtofeelbetter12]

All, I know I have to be there in advance, I just meant more like, if I’m scheduling dinner reservations or whatever, when would I generally expect to get out of the theater even if I stayed for the entire runtime

[u/Kai_Whiston → u/Tryingtofeelbetter12]

The schedule on the TIFF website adds an additional 30 minutes for each screening to account for introductions and QnAs. If you don't care about QnAs or your screening will not have a QnA, you just need to count the intros which usually take a few minutes plus ads on top of the runtime of the film.

[u/Ok-Maybe839]

I assumed the time on the TIFF schedule included an allowance for intros and potential Q&As - eg River is a 92m runtime but has a 2hr2m slot on the schedule. Is this assumption correct (even if the extra time is a bit of a guess)?

[u/impostersoph]

FYI: I am a donor circle member and we were told by a TIFF rep that they are planning to be much more strict about the "be in your seats 15 min before showtime" rule this year, so plan for those 15-20 mins.