BOX OFFICE | Info

First things first

• You must be age 18 or older and a member of our registered non-profit society to attend most films at VIFF. Why? Because most of the films we screen are unclassified (for example, no G, PG, 14A, 18A or R ratings) and, under B.C. law, in order to see unclassified films you must be a registered member of a film society.
• Films for under-18s – that being said, VIFF does seek classification for as many films as possible to enable under-18s to attend. Nearly 30 excellent films were classified last year and we'll aim for a similar number this year. Classified films are listed under Films for Youth >18 on the home page. If you're a high school teacher or student, also visit our High School Outreach Program.
• Membership is only $2. Two bucks! It's good for the whole festival. (You don't have to pay $2 extra for every ticket you buy, in other words.) Buy your membership when you buy your tickets or pass.
• You must show your membership card at every screening. It's proof you are a member of the society. If you have forgotten your membership card, you must purchase another membership in order to be allowed into the theatre.

Buying tickets and passes

Visa is the exclusive card accepted by the Vancouver International Film Festival. All Visa cardholders have unique privileges, including the right (starting at noon on September 12) to buy tickets, packs and passes for a full week before cash sales begin on September 19. VIFF does not accept debit cards.

You have several options for buying passes or tickets:

• In advance at our Advance Box Offices starting September 12
• Buy 24/7 online
• By phone between noon and 7 pm
• Or in person between noon and 7 pm
• At the door of the theatre hosting your selected film, on the day of the screening. This means you take a chance on whether tickets will still be available. Despite appearances and perception, only 25 percent of our films absolutely sell out. So you have a 75 percent chance of seeing the film you want.
• Advance tickets must be bought by 7 pm the day before the screening you want to see. What's the advantage of buying tickets in advance? If you have a ticket to a specific film, you are guaranteed a seat until show time. Of course, in order to ensure that seat is not in the front row, we encourage you to arrive well in advance of show time.
• Passes must be bought in advance.

The Important Small Print

There is a $2.50 service charge per WILL CALL order, whether you order one ticket or many.

• Exchanges can be made up to 7:00 pm the day before a screening. This must be done in person at our Advance Box Offices. A $2.50 handling charge per ticket applies.
• Save time! For each film description online or the program catalogue, you will find a five-letter <ORDER> code shown after the film screening time. Use this <ORDER> code when placing orders online, in person or by phone.

IN ADVANCE

You may purchase passes and tickets in advance, up to 7 pm the day before the screening you want to attend. On the day of the screening, you may buy tickets only at the door of the theatre hosting your selected screening. In other words, let's say you decide on a Tuesday that you want to see a film playing that night at 7 pm at The Ridge. Since it's the day of the screening, you can buy tickets for that film only at The Ridge – not at the Advance Box Offices, not at the Granville, or the Cinémathèque or Vancity Theatre.

ONLINE 24/7
Now through Thursday, Oct 15

Choose the film you want to buy (see Events by Title). Purchase the film from the list or  its description by clicking on "Buy."

A confirmation number is issued for each successfully completed order. Purchased tickets will be available for pick up at the venue of your first screening, on the day of that screening.

Passes can only be picked up at the Advance Box Offices at VIFC (allow two days for processing).

Tickets and Passes may only be picked up by the Visa cardholder as Visa does not permit second party pick up. NOTE THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER and bring it, your Visa card and photo ID when picking up your tickets.

BY PHONE at 604.685.8297
Saturday, Sept 12 – Thursday, Oct 15
Noon – 7 pm

A confirmation number is issued for each successfully completed order. NOTE THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER and bring it, your Visa card and photo ID when picking up your tickets.

IN PERSON

Vancouver International Film Centre
1181 Seymour St. (at Davie)
Saturday, Sept 12 – Thursday, Oct 15
Noon – 7 pm
Visa cardholders have exclusive access to purchase VIFF tickets and passes from Sept. 12 – 18; thereafter purchases may also be made using cash.

Empire Granville 7 Cinemas
855 Granville St. (at Robson)
Wednesday, Sept 30 – Thursday, Oct 15
Noon – 7 pm, Cash and Visa accepted

TICKETS AT THE DOOR

Day-of-show tickets for all screenings may be purchased at the individual venues starting 30 minutes prior to the first screening of the day at that venue, based on availability. Note that even when Advance Tickets are sold out, Rush Tickets are available 20 minutes before show time. It helps if you have your membership card and money ready.

Cinemas

Click here for venue info.

Will Call Info

All venue Will Call booths open half-an-hour before the first film of the day. Will Call tickets will be available on the day of your screening for pick up at the theatre.

For example, you are seeing Broken Embraces at Empire Granville 7 on Oct 11 at 9:30 pm. Your tickets will be available for pick up from 10:30 am at Empire Granville 7 Will Call booth. Please pick up the tickets by 9:00 pm.

If you miss picking up your tickets at your first film screening, they will be sent to the venue of your second screening and so on.

Advance ticket orders cannot be placed the day of the show, cut off is 7:00 pm the day before the date of the screening you choose. All your tickets will be available for you at the Will Call station, located outside the theatre of your first screening.

There will be a $2.50 service charge per Will Call order.