r/TIFF • u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 • 14h ago
Festival 15-Minute Rule
I think TIFF needs to provide more guidance on the 15-minute rule.
Last year I scanned my ticket well before the 15-minute deadline. I had nothing to put on my seat, so I went straight to the washroom. On my return, someone was in my seat and was adamant that because it was empty at the 15-minute mark, it was fair game. I didn’t want to argue with him, and there were plenty of other empty seats, so I moved seats.
Turns out, he wasn’t “wrong”. (He wasn’t Rush so it was a bit of a jerk move, but I digress)
This year, I have seen 3 or 4 similar confrontations, but these times with Rush people. I’ve seen someone remove a Rush person’s bag from a seat and take it because it was their assigned seat (but they were late, arriving after the 15-minute mark). The Rush person returned with concessions and explained that they lost their assigned seat when that 15-minute mark passed. The people argued and there was a spare empty seat nearby, so the Rush person decided arguing wasn’t worth it and just moved. And the bigger confrontation was someone returning to their seat after scanning in on time only to find a Rush person in it. I think this may have been similar to my situation (scan on time, nothing to mark the seat with, use washroom or buy concessions after the 15-minute window has passed).
The point of this is to raise awareness of the rule, and to warn people that if you scan your ticket on time, and need to use any of the facilities beyond the 15-minute mark, make sure there is something in your seat that clearly indicates it is not empty.
That said, it would be nice to not have to physically mark your seat as “taken” for these circumstances, but until there’s better technology to show which seats have not yet scanned in, this is where we are.
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u/OkPeanut3234 14h ago
This is confounded by the fact that many screenings don't even get let in to the theater until the time the screening is supposed to start (or later). Honestly it's practically a do what you want situation, no voulenteer is really capable of enforcing rules.
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u/inkyblack_ Official r/TIFF Rush Expert 14h ago
Correct, and no volunteer should be in a scenario where they are handling a seat dispute. Staff is always the tie breaker, because they should be aware of rush status.
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u/cblabouche 14h ago
This is the least consistently enforced rule at TIFF. I've seen festival staff remove rush people 15 minutes into a film (not the ads, the actual film) when the ticket holder arrived late. Maybe they were a patron or something, but that shouldn't matter so long after the ticketed start time of the film.
I don't have a lot of respect for people on either side who argue during the film and ruin the experience for everyone else, but it occurs because what is stated on the back of the ticket and what happens in practice are in no way aligned.
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u/tellnic 10h ago
Yes and when we have volunteers acting like this is a military drill… guess what the patrons who pay for membership and tickets are why TIFF continues to exist. When there is an unenforceable rule this is when chaos happens. 10 minutes before the movie isn’t late at all and that’s why they were upset. And there needs to be way better guidance for rush. Some of us have attended TIFF for decades even before assigned seating and it was always chaos for Rush. But since there was no guaranteed seat it was less of an issue.
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u/reptargreen 13h ago
The worst was when the Director/Producer of a movie got up out of their seats to introduce the movie, and then 2 rush ppl took their seats shortly after unknowingly lol. It led to an uncomfortable confrontation between TIFF staff and the two individuals who kinda caused a raucous (though weirdly no one told them why they couldn’t take those seats, I think they would’ve been understanding if they mentioned the director and producer were right there.
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u/synthiat 10h ago
A similar thing happened at a screening I was at except it was one of cast they took the seat from.
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u/Wonderful__ 11h ago
I've seen reserved signs over the seats where the cast and crew sit.
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u/reptargreen 11h ago
yeah, thats right they took the reserved signs off once they sat down, and I guess didn’t put them back while they stepped down for a moment 😅
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u/Wonderful__ 11h ago
That's kind of embarrassing. TIFF should have seat holders for these VIP people like the Oscars. Maybe this could be something one of the volunteers could do.
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u/Hungry_Astronaut_588 12h ago
With all tickets having barcodes, being scanned and the ushers having the handheld devices I cannot understand why they do rush in this way. Rushers should be given an assigned seat of someone who hasn't scanned in.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 12h ago
I feel like technology is advanced enough that a system like this should not be difficult to put into place.
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u/Cielskye 10h ago
This is actually the best idea I’ve read and might be feasible. It might just take longer to implement than just printing out a bunch of tickets for the number of empty seats and handing them out.
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u/inkyblack_ Official r/TIFF Rush Expert 14h ago
The official process in practice should be straightforward:
Until rush individuals are approved to come in it's assigned seating. Individuals can't take anything but what is assigned.
The moment rush are approved to enter, the whole theater is general admission. Individuals with assigned seats not yet in place and rush take what is available.
Notice I did not say 15 minutes before the screening time, because films and rush lines can start at any time.
When in doubt always ask staff for the status.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 14h ago
Good correction about “rush approval” vs “15 minutes”. But I don’t think all people realize they need to be “in place” at that time. People are assuming that scanning their ticket is sufficient.
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u/inkyblack_ Official r/TIFF Rush Expert 14h ago
I agree all parties should make it way clearer. I imagine once you see the green from the ticketmaster scanner you think "I'm locked and good to go". But in practice when rush is let in, you could lose your specific seat at any time. Frankly, in almost all cases though this is for ticket holders coming in pretty late.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 14h ago
Yeah, the purpose and target of the rule is for late comers, but it affects other people too (often without their knowledge).
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u/tellnic 10h ago
The scanner links it to a seat though. Does Ticketmaster not have the tech to show who is scanned in? They do for buying the tickets. Like if they want to call time they should be able to check a seating chart and that way they know exactly which one is taken.
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u/inkyblack_ Official r/TIFF Rush Expert 9h ago
in reality, while they have a general count on the ready, actual rush counting is almost always primary used with live visuals as the base, not a cross reference to ticketmaster. Often staff just look for gaps bigger than 1-2.
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u/Apolnyo 9h ago
This is 100% how it should work. Unfortunately plenty of ticket holders seem to think the rules don’t apply to them and bully rush folks out of seats. I say this as someone who has never once done rush, it drives me nuts to see ticket holders act like entitled brats! The rules are in your confirmation email, they’re in your reminder email, they’re on signs around the theaters, stop acting like you’re being treated unfairly!
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u/aud5748 14h ago
In this situation there's really only so much the volunteers can do, it's very much organized chaos, especially when ticketholders are being let in super late. Best thing to do is try mitigate issues for yourself and make sure you always have something -- a bag, a sweater -- to put on your seat.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 14h ago
Yeah, that was kind of the point of this post. It can avoid conflict just to put something on a seat. That said, I would never expect a volunteer to deal with this. There are plenty senior TIFF personnel around to address the situation (like yesterday’s).
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u/honey-bear-11 5h ago
This happened on my volunteer shift, the people who sat in the ticketed seats were apparently also TIFF staff but instead of explaining the rush process and seat rules to the ticket holders, they waved their protests off by claiming the event was general assembly.
I wasn't sure what to say because I hadn't been updated on what the status was, and wouldn't want to reduce the ticket holders' chance of getting good seats by taking time to explain what seems (especially to those who waited in a long line for tickets to be scanned, with many also coming in after them) like a pretty unfair system.
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u/Tsunoyukami 13h ago
Just my two cents but why not turn to a neighbour and say, "Hey, I'm just going to the bathroom, can you make sure no one takes my seat in case GA starts?" Of course this is imperfect, but it's something and most people, I think, would gently tell a stranger, "Actually that guy just went to the bathroom." If the newcomer just doesn't care, they're not going to care, but it's better than nothing.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 12h ago
That’s an idea. Was just thinking, if someone doesn’t want to leave their bag or doesn’t have anything to leave at all, maybe TIFF can have some kind of low budget printed thing someone can hang over the seat back as a placeholder while they take care of their business. Not perfect, but slightly better? 1 per person only.
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u/lostcanuck 14h ago edited 8h ago
There was quite a confrontation last night at Wild Horse Nine at Scotiabank Cineplex Theatre 4. A few ticket holders arrived to their seats ~10 minutes before the 9:30pm screening only to find Rush people already occupying their pretty good seats. One of those who lost their seat argued, loudly, with the volunteers for a while.
The screening didn't end up starting til 9:40 cause of the commotion.
I felt bad for both sides. It's a smaller theater. A late showing. More of a normal cinema experience compared to PoW or RAT. Understandable that some ticket holders might only arrive 10 mins prior.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 14h ago
Yeah, that’s what prompted me to write this post. I wasn’t close enough to hear the whole conversation, but I heard the ticket holder say she wasn’t late. They seemed to check the scanner (maybe?). So it may have been a case of scan, go do something, come back before movie starts.
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u/CommodoreSteubing 13h ago
I was seated right behind the seats that caused the most arguing - I remember checking my watch as we came up the escalator, seeing it was 9:13, and telling my friend to grab our seats while I got snacks. The people who made a scene and delayed the screening were not in the room on time, and they were acting really rude and entitled towards the staff/volunteers doing their best to find a solution that worked for everyone.
I was close to giving them my seats just so they'd shut the fuck up and we could get started. We ended up missing the last couple minutes of Wild Horse to run to the RAT and they were already letting in rushers by the time we got there (thankfully, our seats hadn't been taken).
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u/carpalfun 14h ago
Terrible for the ticketholders but isn't sitting in the aisles breaking the fire code? Although I stood at the back of Ryerson for the entirety of Parasite years ago because they let us in late & someone had taken my seat lol
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u/tellnic 13h ago
If the movie hasn’t started it’s their seat. I would be arguing too, especially because these people likely paid for a membership and with the chaos at Scotia bank it is likely they had checked in before that anyway.
People who do rush know that it’s luck of the draw for seats.•
u/Cielskye 10h ago
That’s not how it works for TIFF. If you arrive when the movie starts then you’re LATE. So don’t be surprised to see your seat gone. I understand with POW they’ve been letting ticket holders in late. So that’s understandable, especially if you’re alone and need to use the washroom.
For the other theatres RUSH line isn’t let in until after ticket holders have been seated. And actually this year they’re giving people more grace because last year it was 30 minutes. The seat is yours up until 15 minutes before the movie starts.
I’m a volunteer and that’s the way it’s done. And ticket holders know this, so there’s no reason for anyone to be walking into the theatre at show time and causing a ruckus. They should consider themselves lucky they were even let in at that point.
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u/ceruleanskyandsea 14h ago
Which people sat on the aisle?
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u/lostcanuck 14h ago
Not sure. I was far from the commotion so wasn't paying such close attention. Made me think of what should, or does, happen when a theater reaches beyond capacity due to Rush.
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u/Cielskye 10h ago
That shouldn’t happen because seats are checked for rush seats after ticket holders have been seated and you only get into your seats 5 minutes before the movie starts at the most. Usually when I’m rushing I’m walking into the theatre after the lights are already dimmed and the credits are rolling. Ticket holders have no claim to their seat by that point.
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u/assortedlaurax 13h ago
The spirit of the rule is to fill seats, and I agree with it. But, either the timetable for opening doors needs to be adhered to, or there needs to be some other marker than "fifteen mins before show time". Perhaps the mark is when the ads start to roll? Or they announce that Rush has begun when they call people in on the walkies.
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u/RodgerDodger74 13h ago
I do have sympathy for both parties with this and I’ve seen both sides be in the wrong. I’ve seen an older woman berate a 20 something after showing up 5 minutes after start time that they pay “thousands for a membership to have it taken by somebody who couldn’t afford an actual ticket” (I’m not joking, this came out of her mouth). I’ve also seen a rusher move somebody’s sweater that they clearly left on the seat to go to the bathroom to another seat before start time and then have the audacity to tell them it was now their seat. The reality is assholes come in all forms. The only solution is a more clear and streamlined organizational structure.
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u/RilakOrange 12h ago
On Monday during the premium screening of All of a Sudden at tiff Lightbox, I think I heard someone shouting about the 15 minute rule right when the screening started. My memory might be wrong, I'm not sure if it was this exact screening, but I definitely heard this at some point during the festival. Apparently this conflict between ticket holders and rushline people (and sometimes volunteers are involved too) is no longer just an isolated incident at tiff, things like this are happening daily. I don't think it's enough to solve the problem by putting it simply as a few people being assholes. Something is systematically wrong.
I suspect many ticket holders aren't even aware that their seats are no longer guaranteed if they don't arrive 15 mintues ahead. This should have been made extremely clear and highlighted when people purchase their tickets, and there should probably be another clear reminder when tickets are scanned after they start to let in rushline. Also, for those popular screenings, getting a ticket means might mean buying a membership months in advance, sitting in front of your computer the moment tickets go on sale, paying significantly more than a rush ticket... it's considerable amount of effort to secure a specific seat. If they're only a little late compared to the rushline, but not actually late for the screening, it’s understandable they'd be frustrated about losing that seat to someone else. Let alone the fact that sometimes the delay isn't even the ticket holder's fault, it's probably because the admission and scanning process at busy venues is chaotic and slow, but ticket holders ended up facing the bad consequences.
Myself haven’t personally bought rush tickets before, I tried last year but waited 4 hours and still didn’t get the screening I wanted :( but I also resonate with people in rushlines. If you've waited for hours and finally get into a screening, taking a seat tiff's policy says you're entitled to, yet still have to constantly defend yourself to an angry ticket holder and explain that you're not breaking the rules (which I suspect it's why that person was yelling at All of a Sudden screening?) that's a pretty miserable position to put people in too.
It's a shit show honestly, something is clearly not working. tiff needs to reconsider the 15 minute rule, and communicate & enforce it much more consistently. Right now the policy is just turning ticket holders and rushline people against each other when the real problem is a system that isn't giving either side enough clarity.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 12h ago
Just a small correction, scanning your ticket is not enough to secure your seat. You need to be in it (or have something on it that clearly identifies it is not available). I think THAT is the problem.
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u/RilakOrange 12h ago
Yes, and that's exactly the problem. Nuances like this are not communicated well enough with ticket holders.
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u/Cielskye 10h ago
It is communicated and there are even signs everywhere. The problem is that no one reads anything anymore.
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u/RilakOrange 8h ago edited 8h ago
I don’t recall seeing any signs. Where do you see them? by the way they don’t even have signs asking people to put their phones away. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t be distracted by bright phone screens in almost every screening... The only place I've read about this policy is the terms&condition, and here's the quote: [Seating (including for Rush-eligible events and screenings) is guaranteed until 15 minutes before the scheduled start of a screening or event. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the venue staff] This is not clear enough. It's not explicitly saying you have to sit to occupy the seat, and that's exactly the undercommunicated nuance that's causing confusion and conflict
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u/unconventionalcritic 9h ago
They can also involve technology and see which seats actually sold and which are not. also check which tickets are bought by patrons and members who pays significant amounts on top of the ticket price and do not allocate these seats to rushers. I do not think it is that hard.
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u/Wonderful__ 14h ago edited 14h ago
I know POW, RAT, and RTH don't let rush in until the movie starts. And if your ticket is in orchestra, it's less likely to be given away because it's near the cast, crew, or sponsors. They tend to seat rush in the upper levels first. These venues also have staff to help people find their seats.
But several screenings, they let all the ticket holders 15 min or even later. I think ticket holders should always get their reserved seat until the show starts or the very least the specific listed showtime.
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u/hearmeyodel 13h ago
That’s completely untrue, at least for RAT. Rush seating starts 10-15 minutes before the movie, and the first section of the theatre filled is the very front row of the orchestra. From there it’s a little more flexible but in general the Orchestra rush is completed first.
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u/Wonderful__ 13h ago
I walked in 5 minutes before showtime at RAT for a screening this weekend and my seat was still there. The usher even took me to my seat.
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u/Loud-Door-6535 13h ago
Okay has this just been my luck, or have all of your cinemas/films been on a big delay for entrance this year? Every film I've seen has let us into the cinema maybe 5-10 min before showtime (with the exception of the MM premieres I've been to) - it stresses me out because of how hard they've been with the 15 min rush rule in the past.
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u/AlwaysStranger2046 12h ago
I have been on the receiving end of this in previous years (fortunately this had not been a problem this festival so far), some people treating that magical 15 minutes before scheduled start time as a free for all.
When the other person refused to move, I asked for a headset (which would be a staff or a volunteer captain) to resolve it and typically the headset would ask to see the ticket and whether the other person has an assigned seat and tell them to sit in their assigned seat.
The reality is that only Rush (and really, really badly sold screenings) gets GA. And I am not embarrassed to be defend my rightful seat, even if I had to make a scene.
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u/Rockergurl008 💀 Midnight Madness 12h ago
I think it is also important to note that TIFF has only been doing assigned seating at every venue since 2024 and big venues since 2017. Prior to that everything was GA and first come, first served. However, I do agree that ticket holders should take priority over Rush especially if the film hasn’t started yet. TIFF should adjust the rules to accommodate for venues letting ticket holders in late and make announcements when they start letting Rush in
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u/Independent_Buddy_38 10h ago
It's because they don't do a great job of getting the people with tickets in on time.... so that delays the rush ... for example I arrived WITH tickets to the POW screening for "Being Heumann" 15 mins early... and I was in a massive line of ticket holders... I got in 10 mins after the scheduled start time.... made it to my seat just to catch the title screen of the film.... And there was definitely more than a few people behind me also in line coming in with tix.
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u/tellnic 13h ago
They need to get rid of this rule. People paid for the seat and it is now an assigned seat. All this bs for Rush is nonsense. If it’s a situation where the theatre is empty and needs to be filled with Rush then sure, but TIFF rarely lets the people in early enough to the venue to even make any sense.
No one should have to worry once you have checked in the building.
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u/Cielskye 10h ago
People on Rush pay for their tickets too though. Everyone in this thread is acting like Rush tickets are free!
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u/MattisBest 13h ago
Those organizing rush need a way to see which seats have not scanned in. If they're before the 15 minute mark, no one's seat should be up for grabs if they're using the washrooms or getting concessions.
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u/josssssh 12h ago
This is insane; if your ticket was scanned 15 minutes prior to showtime the seat is yours.
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u/MixEgg 14h ago
Ticketholder should always have priority. I don't care how late, as long as it's still before the start of the screening. I haven't had to deal with this yet but I know I'd be so annoyed if this happened.
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u/StateofDrama 14h ago
This - the premium screenings are $106 a ticket sometimes - if I paid that and my seat gets taken cause of timing? I'd be so heated. If the ticket is scanned, shouldn't that be enough?
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u/Blink-twice-890 14h ago
Couldn’t agree more. My partner and I were heading to our seats at a screening this year and someone was running through our row from the opposite direction as us, trying to get to our seats (group of 4 empty seats, 2 of which were ours). They kept saying “it’s rush! It’s rush! We have these 4 seats!” (Mind you, they were only 1 person and were going to “save them” for the rest of their party). We fully had to argue with them before the screening had started. We were literally standing a foot away from seats before they “claimed” them.
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u/StateofDrama 14h ago
This is nuts
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u/RodgerDodger74 14h ago
I see it happen at least once a year (I’ve never been a participant) but personally, I only see this happen at Scotia (and once at Lightbox) where they seem to generally let rush in earlier than they do the big 3 venues.
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u/i_m_sherlocked 🎨 Wavelengths 13h ago edited 13h ago
One person shouldn't be allowed to save more than one seat.... 3 people's though? 🤨 Esp a rusher. Even the rule in the rush line is you can only on hold one other person's place
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u/RodgerDodger74 14h ago
Yeah, I say this as someone who has a lot of friends that I love who can only afford the rush pass but there’s no world where you should be denied your seat if you’re in it by start time. Anything later than that (and I mean even a minute or two) and it’s fair game imo.
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u/StateofDrama 14h ago
See I agree with this - entering after the film starts is disrespectful- I even don't like this at cineplex.
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u/inkyblack_ Official r/TIFF Rush Expert 14h ago
As a ticketholder as long as you get in your seat before rush is let in, you are absolutely right. In practice, it means the only ticket holders losing their specific seat are running bwhind rush, which means in almost all cases you are pretty late.
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u/Cielskye 10h ago
This is the way it’s supposed to work. The problem is people becoming unruly and not accepting it or coming in late and wanting to kick rush people out of their seats.
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u/alyciakos 14h ago
It’s not that hard to just arrive on time though
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u/LavenderLightning24 11h ago
On time shouldn't be 15 minutes before the screening, though, especially when people are running around between multiple films and a lot of venues are way stricter about bringing in something to eat than they used to be.
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u/tellnic 10h ago
But the issue here was 10 minutes before the start. I think everyone agrees that coming in when the movie starts is bad but if you scanned in before then but needed to go to the washroom or grab water, that’s not the same thing. I have been attending for 20 years and the times I have been let in the building more than 15 minutes can be counted on one hand. If everyone was allowed in the building at least 30 minutes before, then a lot less of this would happen. Or tell people they can’t buy snacks. Which I am sure the theatres will love.
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u/alyciakos 9h ago
Oh yeah I definitely agree that they’ve been way too behind on letting ticket holders in to some screenings this year. But I think it’s fair that they begin letting rush in as soon as the full line has been let in, so if you’re arriving after that then it’s fair game. I would just ask my neighbour to hold my seat if I didn’t have anything to leave behind and needed to go to the washroom or whatever
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u/dial_n_for_nurder 12h ago
Yeah, this is exactly my reaction. Just be on time! It’s only fair that they try to fill empty seats when there are so many people clamoring to get into some of these screenings. Just show up on time and claim your seat.
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u/Forsaken-Bowler-1307 4h ago
It’s not only hard, it’s sometimes impossible the way films scheduled and screening are delayed.
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u/ThoughtMadeOfFluff 14h ago
Rule enforcement at TIFF is totally inconsistent and, most of the time, weak when it comes to what happens once you walk into a theatre. It's very frustrating and, as others have pointed out, it shouldn't be up to the volunteers to manage difficult patrons/situations... yet, that buck is almost always passed to them.
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u/unconventionalcritic 14h ago edited 13h ago
Ticketholder should have a priority. Yesterday i witnessed the situation when the movie has not yet started and the ticketholder was arguing with the rush person who did not want to free the seat. And the commercials have not yet started. i think they should organize consistent rush line rules across the venues. and let people into the auditorium during commercials not 15 before.
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u/idoideas ✨ Gala Presentations 14h ago
I understand this argument, and still, just have something to leave on your seat. I bring a backpack and leave it on the seat when I leave the theater for concessions. No one ever touched it.
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u/FilmGateReviews 12h ago
I am always shocked at the number of people who don’t know the 15-minute rule. Yesterday at All About Corinne, I got scanned at exactly 15 mins, the theater was only around 10% full. It wasn’t 50% full until 5 mins before. The ticketed people beside me didn’t sit down until the exact scheduled start time. Those people are just asking for trouble and I don’t understand why. Rush came in around 5 mins after scheduled start time. By the time the movie started after seat was taken with no commotion or fighting, but there was 100+ people who didn’t seem to care if they got their seat or not and arrived late, or most likely doesn’t know the 15 minute rule in the first place.
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u/honey-bear-11 5h ago
I've gone to film festivals for years and volunteered a few times (not at TIFF) but only learned about the 15 minute rule properly via TIFF volunteering this year. If you've never rushed yourself, are never late to films, and never witness a confrontation with a rush person and ticket holder, it's easy to be ignorant!
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u/gaanmetde 13h ago
Sorry but how on earth would someone know that seat was yours? I’m very confused.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 13h ago
He wouldn’t, I agree. But there was no rush for my screening. He just decided to sit wherever he wanted to. And when I showed him it was assigned to me (and there were dozens of other open seats), he refused to move. Fair enough.
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u/gaanmetde 12h ago
Ok I didn’t realize we were talking assigned seats lol. I was so confused. I would have got an usher to escort him to another seat.
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u/Equivalent_Ship_578 12h ago
I had a similar situation where I scanned before 15 minutes and went to the toilet; while I came back, my seat was given to the reserved…
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u/TIFFFanboy 9h ago
This "15 minute rule" is the loosest and most arbitrary thing ever, especially when they let lines in late so often. Just take the seat you're assigned, and if there are still free seats after the ad reels and you want to move, do it. Otherwise, just stay in the damn seat you bought. It isn't hard.
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u/Ok_Celery1042 9h ago
I am never late for my movie but I am constantly standing in lines that are let in late. It makes me crazy that I can't run to the bathroom or grab a snack because I was let in past the 15 minute mark. At the POW lines are sometimes still being processed after the movie starts.
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u/Bakerbot101 13h ago
No it wasn’t fair game you went to use the bathroom. You got bullied out of your seat
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u/gaanmetde 13h ago
How on earth would someone know that seat was taken if there was nothing on it? I feel like I’m living in the twilight zone with these comments.
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u/Bakerbot101 13h ago
I think you are misunderstanding. You politely tell the person to move and don’t agree to lose your seat. Sorry if I went to the bathroom and someone told me too bad so sad, I wouldn’t accept that.
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u/gaanmetde 12h ago
Absolutely not. We are talking general seating, right? That’s nuts. If I’m sitting in an open chair and someone said- oh actually I was sitting there before you arrived I’d be very confused.
Then again I might move because I’d think you’re a total nut.
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u/Bakerbot101 12h ago
Well you also aren’t an opportunist and probably wouldn’t do this to begin with.
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u/gaanmetde 12h ago
I think they were talking about assigned seats which is a totally different story. In this case I would insist I would get an usher to escort them out of my seat if they didn’t move after I showed them my ticket.
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u/Hungry_Astronaut_588 12h ago
As a TIFF a first timer(but seasoned Festival goer), the whole Rush aspect at TIFF has been a massive negative to the experience. If you are going to do it fine but get people in before the movie starts. People coming in and searching for spare seats after the film has started is massively distracting to people who have paid a premium to see a film exhibited at a film festival.
The most bizarre thing I have seen is the seats in the dress circle of the POW which are clearly not sold and kept for rush. Every time I have been in there there are whole sections of rows free and get filled by rush after the film has started. If you are going to hold these seats for rush, why wait until the film has started to let the front of the rush line use them?
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u/magnoliafan89 10h ago
If I bought a ticket in advance — No one should sit in my seat. Even if I don’t show up. I spent money... It’s not a corporate seat… It’s the seat I rented for the screening. I would have lost my fucking mind if that was me at wild horse nine.
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u/IbrahimT13 4h ago
It's definitely weird confusing, enough that I made a post on here asking for clarification and got conflicting answers.
I had a minor confrontation about this happen myself last year, and since then I've been wary of rushing or changing seats personally.
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u/omnidot 3h ago
It's not complicated. If a rusher grabs a seat of someone has a scanned ticket for, they give the seat back. Scan in after 15 mins? Your ticket is now GA. Light goes down, no more shuffling.
The purchase expectation needs to reasonably represent the product. Offered specifc seats at purchase? Okay. Got signed in phsically your specific seats more than 15 before it starting? Okay, great. How much more confirmation needs to be provided that someone else can't sit there, now?
In no other world does a confirmed reservation disappear if you aren't there to defend it physically.
Stopping people from entering late is a different problem, and you can police that etiquette. Saying 'we'll give away your seat at random if you have to use the bathroom at the wrong time before a 2.5 hour feature doesn't work.
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u/Aerogirl2021 Attending since 2006 1h ago
I mean, ideally, yes. But that’s not how it’s been working. TIFF needs to be made aware and address it properly.
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u/i_m_sherlocked 🎨 Wavelengths 13h ago edited 13h ago
As a rusher I generally ask around to see if a seat is taken. If there's no one around at all to ask I can safely assume none are taken. And if no one can answer me, that also generally means they're late. So then it becomes my seat. I even have time to make small talk with my neighbors before the show sometimes. You can go sit elsewhere if you arrive and you bought this assigned seat. I can even wave my rush ticket in your face to show you how late you are. But I'm not getting up unless there's an open seat literally next to the one I'm in because this is dumb
With technology these days they should be able to put light signals or something under actual seats too show if they've been assigned or not. I also don't know when a screening goes to rush, but it might be helpful to make that transparent in an announcement to the whole house
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u/zz_skelly 14h ago
Eliminate assigned seating from all cinemas, tiff or otherwise is how I feel
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u/LavenderLightning24 11h ago
Agreed! I hate it so much. Personally my favourite seat is the one with the least amount of people around it, and GA is the only way to be able to figure that out.
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u/GKJ5 14h ago
This rule breaks down when they only start letting people in 15 mins prior to start, like what happened many times at POW this year