Reasons to Rush at TIFF

by Shamim Ahad

“Hey Shamim, do you have your TIFF tickets?”

“No. I never buy tickets. I RUSH the line every time.”

“You just run ticket holders over, like a bull?”

“No! The Rush line is for people who have no tickets.”

Who Rushes?

Those of us who “Rush” are perennial optimists.  As a class of festival goer, we are the underdogs, the ragamuffin cinema buffs.  We take our chances (and a good friend or a good book) waiting in line, sometimes for hours. We are generally a friendly bunch of people . You would have to be, in the absence of a book or a friend, if you want to make the time pass by quickly. But be forewarned,  we are also ferociously faithful to line etiquette.

There are Rush “Philosophers”, passionately discussing films and life. It will start innocently enough, perhaps with a “what’s the time, man?”,  but  they will drawn you in. Suddenly, like an armchair Roger Ebert, you will be arguing the merits of casting or plot device.  Rush “Grandmas” offer juice and cookies, or can at least be trusted to hold your place in line while you go find said food and cookies. Rush “Hawks”are continuously watching and waiting for opportunities to get tickets. They pounce so readily, that I secretly believe that they can smell scalpers from around the corner,

Rushing is for those types who are committed to not being committed. It’s not as glamourous as having actual tickets to the most coveted gala event, but even those gala events have Rush tickets.

Rush of Adrenaline

“How many rush tickets are there?”

“Don’t know.  The TIFF volunteer said he could guarantee nothing.

“But if the film is very popular, isn’t possible you’ll get denied?”

“Absolutely.”

Elgin Wintergarden Theatre. Photo Credit: Shamim ahad

I originally became a “Rusher” in 2004 when I noticed a red carpet coming out of the Ryerson theatre and two big signs.  A formal sign said  “TIFF Ticket holders this way” pointed eastward on Gerrard. “Rush Line“, written in marker, pointed to a small holding area (a little too close to some dumpsters) in the opposite direction. Since then, I have noticed nicer signs and nicer holding areas.  This was my first TIFF experience, so I did what any cinephile student would do. I skipped my afternoon classes and Rushed.

The TIFF Rusher is a romantic gambler. Many times I Rushed, only to be told that there are still tickets available. However,  if  the possibility of getting the ticket is very remote, then the victory is glorious.  I’ve Rushed sold out Gala performances for The House of Flying Daggers and Brokeback Mountain. This year, I Rushed the last sold-out screening of “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus“. Arriving at 11:45 for the 2:30 show,  I was number 15 in the Rush line.  So far, the TIFF gods were smiling on me.

Miracles in the Rush line

“Hey, does anyone need an extra ticket?”

“How much?”

“10 bucks.”

“Sold.”

“Great! I’m now number 25.”

More examples of what can happen in a rush line: The Rush “Grandma” who was ahead of me was given a free ticket by a TIFF volunteer who overheard her mention that she was a TIFF volunteer and a real grandma. Suddenly, I was number 14.  The girl ahead of me then told me that she was randomly given free tickets to the gala performance of Precious while waiting in the Rush line for another movie. Precious won this year’s People’s Choice Award.

People over buy tickets all the time, so it’s common for scalpers approach souls in the Rush line. Tickets are often sold at cost or at a loss, but I overheard that some people were willing to pay up to a 100$ for some premium tickets. I affectionately call those people “Rush Rubes“. If a film is that popular, then it will come to theatres. Rush Rubes, like gambling addicts, have problems drawing a line. Don’t let this happen to you or your loved ones!

At the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,  I bought a voucher for 10$ which was good for any show that day, but I would still have to wait in the Rush line. This put me 10$ ahead but still at risk for not getting a ticket.  A Rush “Hawk” then pulled over a scalper who had 4 tickets to sell at 20$ a piece. I sold my voucher to the guy next to me for 10$ and bought two tickets for 40$. Net cost: 30$. My friend and I left the Rush line and moved into the ticket holders’ line. The Rush line was long, but the ticket holders’ line went from the entrance of the Elgin Winter Garden Theatre at Queen and Yonge,  all the way around Massey  Hall and ended finally at Queen and Victoria.

We got in, and so did the guy I sold my voucher to. We managed to get great balcony seats and were entertained by the musings of Terry Gilliam pre and post movie.  There is a certain perfection in the randomness that occurs in the Rush line, which is why I Rush every time.