Theatre Procedures

Pass-holder Information

Theatre Maps

List of Theatres

All ticket holders will be required to show their membership cards or to purchase one. (For information on membership please visit the VIFF Fact Sheet).

At the Granville 7 and Pacific Cinematheque there will be three line-ups for each screening: one for ticket-holders, one for ticket purchase, and one for pass-holders. (Pass-holders please see below.)

At the Ridge and Vogue there will be two line-ups: one for ticket and pass-holders (though pass holders will be seated first), and one for ticket purchase.

Day-of-Show Advance Tickets and Rush Tickets

Day-of-Show Advance 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.

If a particular screening’s allotment of Advance Tickets has sold out, Rush Tickets are usually available 20 minutes before show time. If you are waiting to purchase tickets, please have your membership card and money ready.

Seeing 2 screenings in a row?

All patrons holding tickets for the next screening in the same auditorium will be allowed to stay in their seats if they choose. However, we ask all ticket-holders to please remain in your seats until our staff have verified your tickets and made a count. If you wish to exit the theatre before the count is made you may be asked to rejoin the ticket line.

Pass-holders
(All passes are strictly non-transferable and photo I.D. may be requested at the theatre.)

A generous allotment of seats is reserved for pass-holders at each screening. While a pass does not guarantee seating, pass-holders are allowed priority access until either that allotment has been reached, or in the case of busy screenings, until 20 mins. prior to show time. When pass-holders arrive for a busy screening after that 20 min. mark, they must join the back of the Ticket Purchase line-up. (If seats remain available by the time Pass-holders reach the Box Office they will be given - i.e. not have to purchase - a ticket and may immediately enter.) If you are purchasing a pass, please be sure to read the “Pass-holder Information”.

At the Granville 7, there will be only one common line for pass-holders despite the multiple screens at this venue. This is to better facilitate the fair and efficient distribution of the “Pass Entry Tickets” that are required for access to a specific film. We are streamlining the process for pass-holders this year in a number of ways. We have done away with the Door Entry Ticket Table. We suggest arriving a reasonable amount of time prior to your screening, as you do at our other venues. Pass-holders arriving in line will be met by VIFF staff who will provide them with the tickets they require for that timeframe. No evening tickets will be distributed to the pass-holder line until 30 minutes prior to the start of the 1st evening show. Please note that pass-holders will be able to request tickets for other people, within reason, as long as they are in possession of that person's valid pass.

Program Changes

All programs are subject to change. Please regularly check “Daily Updates” in our Vancouver Sun ads or the Update page on this site. If you send an email to programupdate@viff.org, updates will automatically be sent to you. No refunds or exchanges can be given, except in the case of a program cancellation.

Important: In the event of a refund, you will be required to show your ticket stub.

Sold-out Screenings

Despite appearances, less than a quarter of screenings sell-out. Our list of "Advance Tickets Sold Out" films indicates that the advance ticket allotment has been reached; rush tickets may be available at the door. Please don’t be discouraged. Plan ahead, but also remember that many of the most popular films will come back for a commercial release. Please enjoy the festival.