TIFF Lightbox

TIFF Lightbox, at 350 King Street West in Toronto's Entertainment District, is the year-round cinema and cultural centre of the Toronto International Film Festival and its main hub during the festival each September. The building, opened in 2010, contains several cinemas, galleries, a learning centre and a restaurant, and it screens a mix of independent, international, classic and Canadian films throughout the year. Outside the festival, programming includes retrospectives, director series, repertory screenings and special events, and the galleries host exhibitions about film and moving-image art. Individual screenings cost about CAD $15 to $20, the box office generally opens around midday before the first screening, and hours depend on the program, so visitors should check the schedule online. A visit commonly lasts two to three hours, matching a film plus time in the lobby or gallery. Evenings are the busiest for screenings, while afternoons are calmer. During the festival in early September, the surrounding streets fill with crowds, premieres and celebrity arrivals, and tickets sell quickly, so advance planning is essential. Photography is normally not allowed inside screenings, though lobby and exterior shots are fine, and the building's glass front on King Street makes a good subject. The venue is close to the 504 King and 510 Spadina streetcars and St Andrew station on Line 1, and it is only a short walk from the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower. For film lovers visiting Toronto, Ontario, it offers programming not usually found in commercial multiplexes.