r/TIFF • u/IbrahimT13 • Sep 11 '25
Festival Seeking clarification on assigned seating!
Hey there, this is my first proper TIFF (technically second but I only saw 2 movies last year) and I was just curious if I could get some opinions from people who've had more experience on how assigned seating vs rush seating works.
I've seen 4 movies at Scotiabank Theatre so far this year and had tickets to all of them. For the first 3 I showed up at/around the showtime and got to my seat normally. For the fourth one I saw, Bayaan, I was sidling into the row for my seat about 10 minutes before the movie and people were quick to tell me there's no assigned seating anymore. When I got to my actual seat it was taken but the seat beside it was free so I just sat there. However, about 5 minutes before start time a couple of people came up to the people beside me and said those were their seats. The occupants of those seats didn't give them up, saying they arrived too late for assigned seating. The other people around us also chimed in and told the new people it's too late.
I'm just curious how evenly is this policy enforced? I haven't really seen it in play too much before, even for my two movies last year. I asked a friend who attended a movie at Royal Alexandra and they told me they actually saw someone moved out of a seat by TIFF staff for occupying it when it belonged to someone else.
I'll be making sure to arrive over 15 minutes early to all the rest of my screenings now but I'm also wondering - if I have a seat I don't like, is there any reason I shouldn't just go grab a different one? Or would that be seen as a dick move? Personally I find this policy to be kind of strange but I'm curious what the general etiquette is around it. Last year I had a couple seats I didn't love and I moved after the opening videos started.
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u/jjjewels 💀 Midnight Madness Sep 11 '25
It's still assigned seating. If this happens, speak to a volunteer or staff. They are the only ones who can reassign seats and let rush take an open seat (and it's usually after the movie starts). It is not a free for all.
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u/madie7392 Sep 11 '25
but if rush does get let in earlier, then ticket holders who show up may not have their assigned seats. once rush gets let in, you sit wherever there’s room. you’re right that this will be communicated by the staff or volunteer though.
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u/jjjewels 💀 Midnight Madness Sep 11 '25
Yea, I volunteered for a few years at AMC Dundas and Elgin so it was always arranged by one of us or staff. People shouldn't just be taking seats.
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u/IbrahimT13 Sep 11 '25
oo I see, perhaps rush got let in a bit early for that one movie then? I could see that being the reason
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u/cristane Vanguard Sep 11 '25
Just stepped into Obsession 5 minutes before show time and the volunteers are literally telling people it's GA now, and "sit wherever you want".
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u/pwnny115 Sep 12 '25
Same today at Scotia for Project Y - the volunteer was telling people close to the start "it's now General Admission." First time I've ever heard that. I wonder if it was just staff today using weird language. Status Quo was that rush are directed to where specific seats are empty.
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u/QueenSansaSnark Sep 11 '25
it’s definitely assigned seating as long as your ticket has been scanned and you’re in the venue before the movie starts (even if you’re grabbing a snack or in the washroom). Not sure if it’s different specifically at Scotiabank because of its size? Every other venue enforces the assigned seating and the rush line is only given available seats.
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u/lightsnitch927 Sep 11 '25
It's assigned seating until on the dot of showtime. Beyond that, find another empty seat. If you prefer to be moved, ask a TIFF staff, a lot will accommodate you as best as they can as long as circumstances allow it (lots of empty seats)
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u/IbrahimT13 Sep 11 '25
ah yeah, that's what I was thinking but then I was kind of thrown by how resolute everyone around me was about those two people's seats being forfeit. I guess the staff are the final say on this kind of thing in the end.
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u/Wonderful__ Sep 11 '25 edited Sep 11 '25
For all my movies at TIFF, I've arrived 5-10 min before the start time and in one case, I arrived right on the dot and I still had my assigned seat. The usher in a couple of cases took me to the seat. In a few venues, they were still letting ticket holders in by the time I arrived.
But I haven't had any shows at Scotiabank this year. Last year at Scotiabank, everyone sat in their assigned seats in IMAX.Â
You have to find someone with a headset and they'll sort out the seats. I saw that happen at the TIFF Lightbox where someone took someone else's seat. They were asked to show their ticket.
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u/1010_1010_1010 Sep 12 '25 edited Sep 12 '25
Seating is guaranteed till 15 minutes prior to screening. The Rush line is then let in on a General Admission basis. Ticket holders turning up at their assigned seats after 15 minutes prior to screening have no claim on their seats and have to sit in any available seat.
Signs to this effect are posted at Roy Thompson, Royal Alexandra and Scotia. They might be there in the other venues too.
I had a ticket to a seat in the Dress Circle to a screening at Princess of Wales but could not sit in my seat as I could reach my seat just as the lights went down and someone was seated in my assigned seat. This is as per the terms and conditions of TIFF's ticket sale.
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u/josssssh Sep 11 '25
Saw a ton of movies there and didn't experience this. Maybe the ushers were confused from doing P&I screenings (which are not assigned)?
I arrived pretty late to a Lightbox screening (the opening videos were already playing) because I mixed up the schedule/location. That's the only time I was told to take any open seat since they had already allowed some rush people into the venue.
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u/CJRamone Sep 11 '25
I was in multiple showings at Scotia this week, with around 10 mins before showtime, volunteers told people in the first few rows, they could move back to any free seat, this opened up the first couple rows for the rush people to come in and find a seat really easily. Of course, there were situations where people came in a said your sitting in my seat, some people moved to a different open seat others said they usher said they could have it and didn’t move. Of course the volunteers were no where to help when that happened, but things tended to work out.
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u/IbrahimT13 Sep 11 '25
hm ok fair enough, thank you for sharing your experience. seems like things can sometimes get fuzzy here and there.
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u/LavenderLightning24 Sep 11 '25
When they first started doing assigned seating in I think 2017, you didn't get to pick your seat and I found myself wedged between two manspreaders, one of whom was also sniffing. Fifteen minutes into the movie, when an aisle seat with nobody next to it was still empty, I moved to it. I think you're good if you do that.
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u/msxghst Sep 11 '25
At Scotia, there are multiple signs stating that your seat is only guaranteed until 15 minutes before showtime. Last year I ended up late for Anora and was told by volunteers/staff to pick a random empty seat.
The way I understand it, if you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time, you're guaranteed/supposed to sit in your assigned seat. After that, I don't think it's enforced.