Off Sale? Don't Panic!

I’m sure a lot of you have started to notice screenings are showing up as “OFF SALE” at the online box office (accessible here), “RUSH ONLY” on the boards at the Festival Box Office at 225 King Street West Concourse Level (entrance at Duncan Street), or generally unavailable by phone at (416) 599-FILM or 1-888-599-8433. Click here for a list of films currently Off Sale (Click on the button that says "Are You Just Browsing Today?" to see the list).

Don’t panic, there are still ways for you to get tickets. Here are a some options:

1) Don’t give up! Keep checking the various box offices listed above. 

Many of the seats for films listed as off sale were ticketed during the advance order process last week. Any of those ticketholders could change their mind between now and the screening and exchange their ticket for a voucher. I’ve had the most luck checking the systems at around 7:00 am (when the box offices open), but check all throughout the day as seats can become available any time.

2) If it is the day of the screening and you still can’t get a ticket at any of the box offices, your last resort is the rush line. 

Rush seats become available when people decide not to exchange tickets like I described above and simply just don’t show up. Remember, the festival's goal is to make sure that every seat in a theater is sold. The earlier you get in line the better. If the film is *HUGE* you want to get there at least 3 hours before the film starts. 

For midnight screenings the line will be crazy long, but it probably has a lot of people rushing a 9:00pm or 9:30pm screening. Once those people leave, you should be close to the front of the line. Make sure you are in the rush line (not the ticket holders line) and confirm which line you are in with a volunteer. The Ryerson seats over 1200 people so the odds are good if you are at the front of the line you've got a shot at a seat but there is no guarantee that seats will be available.

3) Your last option is to catch a repeat screening. 

The atmosphere is more relaxed than the midnight screenings and there is always a chance that some of the talent is still in town to do a Q&A.