She’s given us tips on how to survive a TIFF rush line. Our expert, Samantha Lui, also gives us a peek at what she carries with her while braving the wait.
1 | Water
Always, ALWAYS bring water. A bottle of water is crucial as it’s easy to get dehydrated waiting outside for a long period of time.
2 | Snacks
If you’re someone who gets hungry every two hours, it’s best if you come prepared with lots of snacks. Not only will you save money, you also won’t have to leave your spot in line. We recommend food that won’t spoil in the heat.
3 | Umbrella and/or sunglasses
Because you’ll be waiting outside the whole time, come prepared for the weather. Rain or shine, the festival will keep going. It’s pretty hardcore to wait through the rain, but for the love of film, IT IS WORTH IT.
4 | A fully-charged phone
Now that phones are practically glued to our bodies, bringing a fully-charged one (particularly a smartphone) is crucial. Often, there will be companies offering Twitter contests for free movie tickets. With a quick retweet or reply, you could be the lucky winner of some truly exciting prizes. VIP seats, anyone?
5 | Homework
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but rushing can be time consuming. Rather than waste precious hours twiddling your thumbs, it’d probably be best to get some reading or homework done.
6 | Camera
A camera is a must. With a bunch of celebrities in town, you’ll never know who you’ll run into. Not to mention, you may find yourself looking good enough for a selfie.
7 | The Bible aka TIFF film schedule
Whether you’re stargazing or planning to see a movie, it’s useful to keep a schedule with you at all times. Just in case you miss a film or want to catch your favourite celebrity leaving a venue, the TIFF schedule will tell you when and where all the premieres are.
8 | Cash
This should be common sense, but you’d be surprised as to how many people assume credit cards can be used at TIFF. Often, last minute sales are going to be cash only, so don’t be that person who has to leave the line to get to an ATM machine.
9 | Coupons
Tickets at TIFF can get pretty expensive. To save up on cash, pack your wallet with coupons so you can save on meals.
10 | Appropriate Clothes
You’re going to be sitting outside all day, so dress comfy. It is not ideal to wear heels or your favourite suit or cocktail dress. I’m not recommending sweatpants, but dressing in something you can move around in will make your rushing, and viewing experience much more enjoyable.
Samantha Lui is a graduate of the Ryerson School of Journalism. She was a copy editor and reporter for The Ryersonian.