Beginning on September 9, 2021, Toronto International Film Festival is requiring that Festival staff, audience members and visitors entering the Festival venues from September 9 to 18 will be required to show either proof they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or proof that they have tested negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours prior to entering any TIFF venue.

TIFF Festival venues include TIFF Bell Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, the Cinesphere Imax Theatre and the West Island Open Air Cinema at Ontario Place. This protocol does not extend to the Visa Skyline Drive-In and RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place where audiences will be in their cars.

“TIFF has taken great care and consideration in implementing these TIFF specific protocols to mitigate risk to audiences and guests attending TIFF,” said Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, TIFF Co-Heads. “We have relied on municipal and provincial medical direction and advice on rapid testing and we expect this will provide another level of clarity and comfort for all 2021 Festival goers.”

Along with TIFF’s new announcement, TIFF also reiterated previously announced COVID safety measures:

• Masks are required at all TIFF Festival venues. Audience members and visitors will not be permitted entry into the venue without a mask. Where an audience member or visitor is unable to wear a mask due to health reasons, TIFF will provide them with a face shield as an alternative. If the audience member or visitor does not wish to wear a face shield, they will be denied entry into the venue and will be given a refund for their ticket.
• Media outlets who are invited to attend red carpets and who will be interacting with talent on the carpet will be required to wear a mask, be tested every 48 hours and provide proof of a negative COVID test.
• There will be no printed tickets or passes; access to all TIFF Festival venues will require a mobile ticket.
• There will be no rush ticketing or indoor lineups at any TIFF Festival venues.
• There will be no concessions sold at indoor TIFF Festival venues. The drive-ins are the exception.