(Attended 09/08/25 MO @ 9:15pm): The lights were bright at this downtown Toronto movie box complex! I was in town attending the 50th Toronto International Film Festival when I was fortunate enough to see a film at the TIFF Lightbox. One of five venues used to showcase films during the festival, this multiplex housed a handful of screenings among its five main auditoriums with an approximate seating capacity range from 45-500+. Formerly named the TIFF Bell Lightbox, this facility opened on September 12, 2010 with the first screened film being "Trigger", on land donated by Ivan Reitman and family. The venue replaced the Art Gallery of Ontario's Jackman Hall as the primary screening venue of Cinematheque Ontario. A cultural center in Toronto, the five-story complex also housed two restaurants, major exhibitions and galleries, a gift shop, a rooftop terrace, and learning studios. Since 2010, it has been the headquarters for the Toronto International Film Festival, and in 2023, the name was formally renamed TIFF Lightbox. How was my first time at this lightbox of movies!? PURCHASE(S) Regular Screening - "Three Goodbyes" ("Tre Ciotole") ($29.00CAD): Shown in the largest Cinema 1, the world premiere of this Italian film based on the bestselling novel by Michela Murgia and directed by internationally-known Isabel Coixet, was a touching movie that followed Marta (Alba Rohrwacher) from a split-up, discovery of a fatal personal illness, and what her life means moving forward before her ultimate demise. A thoughtful yet heartbreaking story that made you think introspectively, the slow pace and at times quick subtitled conversations made it difficult for me to actively pay attention. It was beautifully shot with nice locales. SERVICE All of this was based during the Toronto International Film Festival and not solely on the general on-hand staff. The online ticket sales were a breeze once you found a film that wasn't sold out. The "Rush Line" sales were quick once tickets were released, and every human being I dealt with from festival staffers/volunteers, the box office, and to the concessions was nearly seamless - thank you! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): I was constantly in the area all day throughout the Toronto International Film Festival, so I simply walked. Otherwise, there were spots along the many main and surrounding streets, some nearby structures, numerous public transportation options, and rideshares - 'nuff said! ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE Generally speaking, this was your standard multiplex theatre filled with cushy cup holding reclining seats, very good sound system, and auditorium seating so no one blocked your view. Out of the theatres, you had a decent concession stand, a Founders Lounge, sitting areas, a gift shop, in addition to a decent-sized bar dining area. There were elevators, escalators, and stairs that moved you around. Plenty of natural lighting came through the large surrounding windows while electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. There weren't any TVs (except at the bar area) nor any background music, but there was plenty of chatter all around. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent at the TIFF Lightbox and would definitely visit them again! Everything ran smoothly enough, there weren't any real hassles, the concession prices were standard with a more broad list of things to eat while the ticket prices were elevated as was the norm for a film festival. The customer service was easy, friendly, and straightforward. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $29.00CAD BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more

Suspiciously, in the theatre, we've found data only works if your service provider is Bell... interesting. Besides that, the theatre is such a cool place; went here during hotdocs to view a documentary. All the staff and volunteers are incredibly kind, and the Tiff merch store is pretty cool as well! read more

Tiff - Q&A with producer of 32 metres - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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They've removed the cost check, which is a little inconvenient. But still a great venue. Top Gun in 70MM!

The TIFF Cinematheque is truly wonderful. I cannot speak to the experience during the film fest in September. I haven't attended. I can only imagine it's a zoo. But year round, the TIFF is just amazing. So many wonderful international, art films. So many viewings. Such great theatres. And it's amazing that they are able to maintain such quality of offering when the theatres are nearly empty half the time. It's quite the opposite extreme to the Cineplexes of the world with box-office successes from Hollywood. It is clear that the people behind TIFF truly love arthouse cinema. I guess that they have lots of sponsorship. And probably lots of volunteers. Keep up the great work TIFF!! A few things to look up for: 1) TIFF membership - I haven't looked into this, but apparently it's a very good deal and well worth it. 2) The TIFF building is just awesome. Not only are the theatres clean and comfortable, the entire building is so inviting. And perfectly it's located on posh King West. 3) The TIFF store is very cool, with lots of great arthouse books and film-themed Knickknack. 4) On the third floor you will find the very cool Cafe/Bar Varda. 5) On the second floor you will find a very posh bar Luma. read more

I was here for a HotDocs showing for Against the Tide, a powerful documentary highlighting the story of two fishermen in India struggling to make a livelihood in the face of others overfishing, climate change and pollution. They have another show this Saturday at 8pm. Highly recommend! I didn't expect I'll enjoy it as much as I did. Eye-opening. I like that this showing included a question-and-answer period with the director and producer! The immense efforts and time they took to get the footage in the deep sea and all the conversations they captured of the fisherman over the years stitch into this beautiful story. The theatre was easy to navigate, and the check-in process was seamless, like any TIFF showing. Many people helped direct me to the correct cinema. The seats were comfortable, and the location is accessible near a lot of offices and the subway. A location I would return to so 5-stars here. read more

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We visited the TIFF on a Tuesday night to see Past Lives. This modern theatre was the perfect venue to see a movie. The chairs in the theatre were comfortable. The theatre itself was well thought out. I can only imagine how magical it would be to visit during the Film Festival. The size of the theatre gives you an idea of the significance of the Toronto Film Festival. There is a lounge, two restaurants and a gift shop. Despite being very large, you felt welcome. The staff was friendly and helpful. The concession stand offered a large variety of drinks and snacks. The theatre had a small stage and piano. Everything seemed spotless. The gift shop was closed when we saw the movie, so we made a side trip to visit the store on our way out of town. If I find myself in Toronto again I will be visiting TIFF. Parking can be tricky and expensive, no different than any big city. read more

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A not for profit organization that screens more artistic movies than the big budget Hollywood extravaganzas we are used to. This location has multiple screens for large showings (250 or so) to some smaller theatres that seat 20 viewers. The staff and volunteers here are very friendly and always look forward to the big September festival that brings a worldwide cast of talent to showcase their goods for all to enjoy read more

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TIFF Bell Lightbox was everything I hoped it would be. I'm a cinephile and follow the film industry, and it's no secret that the Toronto International Film Festival is important and respected. When I was researching TIFF and learned the had a 5-floor cultural center, I was IN. Anyone who gives this spot less than 5-stars doesn't appreciate what they have in their own backyard! I wish so badly I had access to such a beautiful place in the states. As if the beautiful member's lounge didn't grab me enough, they also have floors for archival, an awesome gift shop, art gallery spaces, and other community areas. It all appears to be sparkling new. While visiting Toronto I saw What's Love Got to Do with It?, a 2022 British romantic comedy film directed by Shekhar Kapur. It was easy to pre-order tickets online and choose seats. The inside facility really was impressive to me upon entering and I took the escalators up to my theater. They have a huge concession area and the entirety of TIFF Bell Lightbox is clean, inviting, and makes you want to sit there and watch films all day. I can't recommend this spot enough! read more

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You can catch indie and mainstream movies. It's a nice space. They have free classics for members.

I love this place! Seats are comfy, lots of legroom and very clean. I am a Tiff member and I love that I can watch a movie with my friends or watch a movie here while the fam watches a Mirvish show or Raptors game nearby. The washrooms are large, clean and tidy and there are 2 restaurants within the building: Luma on the 2nd floor and O&B Canteen on main floor. Unfortunately the restaurants in the building don't offer a discount with your tiff card. There are cool places/lounges has n the upper floors that can be rented for events and a nice lounge for members to relax in. They offer lots of cool programming throughout the year with celebrity/director/author/chef talk backs. Last year we attended a show in the Food in Film series and there was food before the movie and a chef talkback after.....very fun. Lots of other restaurants just outside so many meal options pre or post show! read more

Tiff - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

IMO this theater is designed for a certain audience and mainly the film festival. I got a behind the scene tour while visiting the condo the occupies the upper part of this building. They do have good exhibits regularly. Now for the main the theaters itself hmm not impressed with the seating nor the screen and sound. Functional at best and already showing signs that they need upgrading. I think it falters as a place to be immersed at which might just be fine for indie and non mainstream flicks they play mostly. I would rate it 2 stars if it wasn't for the hard to catch flicks. Bumping star for the interesting selection of movies. read more

If you're looking for a place to host an event, Malaparte on the sixth floor of TIFF Bell Lightbox, could be an excellent option. I have never been here before and came because I was invited to an event. First off, I loved how the room had grand windows overlooking downtown and could easily seat 200 people with space for mingling near the back. There's a bar for you to order drinks and the bartenders were quite friendly. As for food, I was surprised to see that guacamole was handmade fresh and served in individual vessels. Also, there were servers walking around with food, which included: smoked salmon crostini, beef sliders, chicken and waffles, beets crostini, fried balls, and sushi. Each just tasted DELICIOUS!! Especially the sushi, I was expecting it to be a Western approach to sushi but the rice was flavoured with rice vinegar and the roll held together nicely--I had three pieces because it tasted so good! The event that I came for was great, there were no blimps with sound issues or anything. It was just a wonderful evening! read more

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I'd never been and now I'm glad I did. This is the most adult movie theatre I've been to. It was quiet, no phones going off or people talking during the film. Everyone was there to see a great film and we did. The facility is clean and classy. You can get alcohol, pop, water and snacks to bring into the theatre. It was large and the seats were comfy, An enjoyable experience. I definitely want to go back. read more

What a civilized way to take in a film. Once construction ended on this beacon of the arts in TO, I popped my head in a few times, but this weekend marks the first time I actually saw a movie or an exhibit within the walls of the Lightbox. I had a wonderful time! The seats are incredibly comfortable and the snack selection is second to none. I do want wine with my popcorn! What a grand idea. Alas, I'm 9 months pregnant so this time I had chai with my bag of butter. Still clearly an upscale snack pairing... I look forward to returning to check out their exhibitions soon. read more

Tiff - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a cinema lovers dream! After years of running around between Cinematheque at the AGO, the Film Reference Library, and various TIFF box offices and venues, it is so nice to finally have everything under one roof. They have really thought of everything and every visit here is so enjoyable! They cater to 'serious' film junkies without being pretentious about it. Films -- for some reason, every time I come here I have been in Cinema #1. So I can't speak to the other ones, but I found the seating in cinema #1 very spacious and comfy! Tons of seating and I like that the rows are such that if a tall person or someone with big hair sits in front of you, you will still be able to see properly. So key. I'm also impressed with how soundproof the walls are. I was here for Cinefranco and there was a huge crowd of people chattering outside the theatre, but once I walked in a few steps, I couldn't hear a thing. They do have a wonderful selection of films, including lots of Canadian content, classic films, and the occasional free screening. They even have a Book on Film Club, which is such a great idea. Gallery -- I saw the Tim Burton exhibit and thought it was fantastic, although it was quite crowded when I went (and they have weird rules, like being very strict that you can wear your coat in the exhibit but you can't take it off and hold it). The next show is going to be 'Federico Fellini: Spectacular Obsession' opening June 30. I can't wait! Etc. -- I have been to both Luma and O&B Canteen. Both are excellent and it's nice to have a casual place to chill between screenings, plus a fancier option to glam up the theatre-going experience. I love being able to people watch on King W. as well. I have not tried the concessions stand. It looks pretty standard. Washrooms on the 2nd floor are really clean and nice. Box office staff are knowledgeable and helpful. The gift shop has some good books and cute gifts. read more

This is in regards to my visit for the Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond exhibit. I agree with one of the reviews that there are staff everywhere, it feels like I'm being closely monitored. They all wear dark clothing with a ID badge over their necks. They don't look particularly pleasant or welcoming sorry to say. That said, the Bond exhibit was very disappointing. Adult tickets at $17 to see a bunch of drawings, storyboards, limited gadgets, costumes worn by faceless manequins in an enclosed space. There was next to no ventilation in the entire exhibit. I was told very sternly by the exhibit staff upon entering that I am not allowed to take off my jacket with no reason and that it's very hot in there, and that I should bring my coat to the coat check where I have to pay. Uh, excuse me? The layout of the exhibit did not make any sense as you had to double back to certain rooms to see displays you may have missed if you continued walking with the traffic flow. Luckily, I am a Bank of Nova Scotia SCENE member so for the price of 2 tickets, I only had to pay for one (or $8.50 x 2) each because there was no way that this poorly designed exhibit was worth the full price of admission. I have been a James Bond fan for many years, beginning from my middle school years when I first watched Moonraker. I own all of the films, including the films not considered to be part of the EON Productions series of films (with David Niven in the 1967 Casino Royale and Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again in 1983) and this celebration event at the TIFF Bell Lightbox did not do Bond justice. Considered me neither shaken nor stirred after visiting this exhibit. read more

Tiff - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Loved this place! Came here for the free Korean film festival, and watched my all time favourite movie, The Thieves! The theatre we were in was not huge, but the sound system was good and it was a good choice for the amount of people who ended up coming. I loved the ambiance of the whole place, although I'm not sure if I would come back to pay for parking and overpriced popcorn, judging by some of the other reviews! read more

Tiff - TIFF tickets for The Thieves - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

First week in Toronto and my girlfriend and I came here. I was actually reluctant to watch some indie film kind of thing but ended up liking the movie itself more than the girlfriend did! Overall the vibe is an upscale move theater vibe. Great restaurant, helpful staff and even though you still have the staples like popcorn and pop, you can also grab more unique things like a cappuccino, beer and so on. Highly recommended spot and I will absolutely be returning! read more

Tiff - Lady Macbeth Special Screening courtesy of Yelp!! - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Watching the documentary on Harvey and Bob Weinstein right now. The seats are so uncomfortable as I have been shifting in my seat over 100 times since the documentary started an hour ago. In spite of this 'small' problem, I like this place. The decor is eclectic and modern. There must have been inspiration from institutions like MOMA when designing the TIFF Lightbox. On site, you can find a couple of places to wine and dine. Come here for food or a doc, but let me warn you ... bring a pillow for your buttocks or wear rear padded jeans. Let me shift in my seat yet again ! read more

I saw a movie here today. About the theatres: - roomy, cushy seats - lots of leg room - ours had a balcony too - wonderful Dolby sound Nice new facilities! Was very enjoyable and there was no outside noise that disturbed the theatre experience read more

Rolling... Easily accessible by TTC, this is a great place to catch a film, with the best part being they don't charge you more than that of a regular theatre ($13). They also show a lot of interesting and unique films. I was here for the Andy Warhol exhibit and got tickets to a movie for a reduced price ($7) when you buy the exhibition+movie combo which is a great deal! I've been here a few times - the James Bond exhibit; seeing a few foreign films. The staff are really friendly and polite and the theatres are clean and the food selection is great. There are 2 restaurants here - Luma and Canteen. I didn't go to either this time but I've been to Luma before and it's good. Definitely come a bit early to grab a bite before your movie! I love the fact that all their exhibits have a timed entrance. This ensures that it isn't over crowded when you get there and you can actually see everything without being bumped into by a gazillion people. Other events should really take a note and pick up this trick. For November they are showing Marilyn Monroe and Liz Taylor movies as these were 2 of Andy's favourite celebs. So sit back and enjoy a few hours of pure bliss read more

I had a really good experience at TIFF Bell Lightbox last week. The service was great and they hosted an amazing event. I attended the World Premier of Anne the Series and TIFF did a great job from start to finish. CBC Toronto planned the event and they definitely deserve some praise as well. Together both parties collaborated to create a fun event from start to finish. When we arrived they had a white table designated for guests attending the premier. We claimed our tickets and were told to go and leave our coats at the coat check. Since I was running late, I immediately made my way to the theatre. The theatre was really big and spacious. The seats seemed bigger than the ones at a traditional Cineplex theatre (I'm not referring to their VIP or dbox seats). The night began with an introduction of the TV Series, followed by the first 6 episodes (I believe), then they had a Q&A followed by a lovely cocktail reception at Luma. At the cocktail reception we had the opportunity to mingle with all the creators of the film (writers, directors, actors and more) all while enjoying the ambiance. They had an open bar with cocktails and waiters serving hors d'oeuvres. They also had a really pretty promotional background made out of flowers for guests to take photos. We got tons of great photos and had a really good time. I would definitely return to TIFF to watch more screenings. read more

Tiff - The directors and main star of Anne - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This is hands down the best venue for film watching in the city. And the programming they have is stellar. I recently joined as a member in order to receive discounts, and I haven't regretted it. I've seen master classes, classic films and new releases. The building itself is quite beautiful in its architectural majesty. The lines are clean, and the glass reflects the beauty only can be witnessed from behind a lens. One of these days I'll have to actually go to the TIFF lounge for a glass of wine. Seems I always miss it when it's open. But the locale of the Lightbox is handy, in the midst of King St. crowd. read more

Tiff - Rooftop at TIFF - Cinema Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I've been here for a few movies, most recently Young Adult. Every time I come to this theatre I feel that the best part of the theatre is everything but the theatre themselves! The building itself is pretty awesome but has some serious design flaws. In the lobby there is Canteen, a gift store and most recently a Grace Kelly exhibit. Tickets are easy to purchase and at a reasonable price. There is a bar, cafe on the second floor and they have 3 screens on this floor. There is one more floor on top which has 1 or 2 screens and the mens washrooms. The movie selection is definitely not something you'd find at the other theatres which can be awesome or terrifying. I mean thought provocative movies are great but I hate being 50/50 on a movie not knowing if I'll want to kill myself afterwards because it was that damn depressing! The thing that I dislike the most are the seats. They feel like a less comfortable version of a greyhound bus chair. Maybe it's just the memories from my greyhound rides but I do not like how uncomfortable the chairs are. Add in the fact that there is a sleep drop off from were the cup holder is and I hate the chairs! The screens and audio are pretty nice and the layout of the seats are more along the lines of older theatres were it doesn't feel like theatre seating which I do prefer. read more

I'm a big fan of TIFF and TIFF Bell Lightbox. I think it's great that there is a place in the city that promotes film and brings smaller indie and foreign pictures to a bigger audience. That deserves our support! I would recommend becoming a member, because you get a great discount on films and concessions here, which very quickly make up the price of membership. The theatres are comfy, well maintained and there are lots of food options in the building and nearby on King St. read more

Here's my review of the Tim Burton exhibit in the main gallery. While I always knew I would visit it once it arrived, I was still a little hesitant because I've not been to a lot of art exhibits and was afraid I would just get bored. But the mind of Tim Burton is sure to leave you with a deeper appreciation for him and set him apart from a lot of the other filmmakers out there who just don't have such a distinctive "footprint" on their work. The only downside is that the $22 ticket price is too steep, below $20 would have been a good price to pay. In total we were there for one solid hour and were able to really go through almost all the exhibits and read all his hand written notes. His handwriting was a tad bit difficult to read quickly for me so those long notes took some time, but they were all very interesting. They included a letter from him to Johnny Depp, a collection of his poems which were hilarious and I'm not really in to poetry and also a nice rejection letter from Disney :) There were of course movie props from his entire career with nothing from Alice in Wonderland that I saw (maybe a painting or 2?). Some of my favourites were what I mentioned earlier in regards to his poems, and the Stainboy and Toxicboy items and some VERY Burton-esque drawings he'd submitted while working for Disney which were never used. My advice is that if see yourself visiting the lightbox frequently, look in to becoming a tiff member as that will provide you a free ticket along with the benefits of membership. I highly recomend the exhibit and catch it before it leaves on April 17th! read more

Finally went to see a film here. PROs: -Reasonable pricing ($12 including tax) -Mostly adults, no children or teenagers in sight (yay!) -Helpful staff milling around everywhere -Cool bars and places to eat inside, lots of seating if you need to kill time before a show CONs: -SEATS. (-1 star!) Ugh. I'm super confused as to the other reviews here claiming the seats are comfortable. Were we in the same theater? I'm starting to think maybe a few of the 5 screens have better seating? We were in #4 (I think) and it was awful. I'm only 5'2 and my knees were nearly hitting the chair in front of mine. The seats were cheap and NOT comfortable. -Agree with another review noting that "finishing" on some of the theater detailing is shoddy. The particular theater I was in had a very "temporary" feel to it, as if it was just thrown up quickly. -Get tickets in advance because some of the theaters only sit 50-60 or so, tickets go fast. read more

I remember being at TIFF when they described what they wanted this building to be; a place where the community could get together to celebrate film and film making. So far it has definitely lived up to that. I've been to see movies made my inner city children, foreign films, and even live music played with video games playing in the background. It's a unique place that is both aesthetically pleasing and exactly what the theatre going experience should be. read more

My reaction after the Bell Lightbox was open to the public, "I want to go to there!" My reaction after going to the Bell Lightbox at least once a week for a month since it opened, "Can't I just live here?" Full disclosure, I already have a membership and am seeing at LEAST one film a week still, and loving every minute of it. But really, Toronto has finally earned it's wings as TIFF's elephant in the room for almost a decade finally comes to fruition. The Lightbox is a fantastic achievement with gorgeous screens (Cinema 1 is my new lover), clean clean clean washrooms, a swanky bar, a members lounge, and also a gallery (which hopefully will encapsulate a larger amount of artifacts for the Tim Burton exhibit than are on display for the Essential Cinema.) But really? It's the programming that really draws out the best about the Lightbox. The Essential Cinema programme is one of the most exciting things about the Lightbox and I can't wait to see how they top it next year. Until then, you can find me at first-run fare like Howl and Uncle Boonmee and I can't wait to see what Colin Geddes (our Midnight Madness guru) has in store for Halloween. But wait, why only 4 stars? The concession options are unfortunately barely on par with Scotiabank, instead of more in line with that of the Cumberland, so when that finally improves I'll be updating my stars. Until then, the Lightbox concession, you are on notice! read more

The second that you step foot into the TIFF Bell Lightbox building, all you feel is TIFF movie magic. Five floors of glass and gloss, it's like the business class of movie-going while Cineplex is like flying coach... on Air Canada without snacks. There are 5 cinemas and two gallery spaces. If you are peckish or fancy a glass of wine, there is a modern and snazzy lounge on the second floor. The schedule of shows is available online. Lightbox offers a mix of classic films, essential cinema, and a long list of international films. I wish I could sit here and watch movies all day long! Public tickets are only $12 a pop but the exhibits are more expensive. The Tim Burton exhibit has brought a lot of people to the venue. I haven't seen the exhibit but it's on my to-see list! TIFF Lightbox is fantastic! One of the best additions to Toronto's art and culture scene. read more

What a lovely way to watch a movie! Large roomy chairs, plenty of leg room, hardly a bad seat in the house and amazing popcorn! It's not often I get to go to a movie and see an Oscar for a Canadina movie in the lobby, although now I'm hooked on the TIFF Lightbox I might get used to it! The movies are listed online, and I was able to check showtimes and buy my tickets all at the same time, although they charged a convenience fee. I think $12 for a film is average, the bonus is that they offer a student discount ($8.50?). It is in a great area with lots of spots for drinks and eats before and after your movie, or you can stay in the complex and try their onsite offerings, which I plan to do next time. So happy this has finally opened - great addition to the entertainment district! read more

Recently Opened, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is a five story complex (with condos attached) in the entertainment district on King. Built to be the "official home" of the Toronto International Film Festival and a multi-use arts space, the building also contains five cinemas, two galleries, three studios, restaraunts and a lounge. my SO and I caught the TIFF premiere of 127 hours here this past weekend and were excited to check out the building. Its beautiful, thoughtfully designed and obviously very clean and shiny after less than a week in business. Lots of room to congregate in the lobby, clean bathrooms with tonnes of stalls and mirror space (less lineups!) and extremely comfortable chairs. Bonus are the "boxes" above the general seating for balcony type viewing. Concession stands provide the necessary goodies, however It looked like the coffee was non-name-brand for those who like Starbucks or VanHoute with their film. Avoid the entire strip of restaurants out front. They all cater to tourists, are terribly overpriced and not very good. There is a cafe within the space, which I am eager to see how it is. During the year, this theatre will host special exhibitions (the first being a Tim Burton Show in conjunction with NYC's MOMA) as well as global cinema. Beautiful space, comfortable chairs, decent location for public transportation, interesting events and films. read more

This is a gorgeous new HQ for TIFF, and everything is pretty much as it should be - decent sized screens, clean and ridiculously comfortable tiered seating, a gorgeous building and fantastic, accessible facilities. The variety of films and events that the Lightbox has hosted so far have shown that this isn't a mere cinema, but it's somewhere that wants to engage the public with moving image arts as well. Their participation in Nuit Blanche 2010 was a great example of this. Regular screenings are a nice mix of newer films and some retro presentations, and i'm finding there's more and more i'm wanting to drop in and see. Ticket prices for standard screenings (public prices) are around $12, but for special screenings and events you're likely to pay more - which is only fair. I do wish it were a little more reasonable to afford a membership, but that's about my only complaint. The concession stand has slim pickings, but at least the prices aren't too outrageous. You will find that for some screenings you are able to bring in outside food, which is an awesome move on the Lightbox's behalf. It would be great if they could put out a better schedule of screenings and events, because without physically going to the Lightbox I have to rely on the website which is clunky and unfriendly. Overall, this facility is definitely on par with those like the BFI in London or ACMI in Melbourne, and Toronto should be thrilled to have such a high quality champion of cinema and the arts smack bang downtown. read more

Great venue for film in the heart of toronto. Wish we took more time to check out the library of film I heard they have here. Five stories, so many levels. Suprised it is not busier... it was a wednesday night. It is great that as canadians we are starting to ease up on liquor laws, but cans of beer at the concession stand are ten dollars a brew. Happy hour at the bar is a better option, as an old boss advised years ago. Theatre 5 was small and the chairs shook whenever anyone in the row shifted or coughed. Loving Vincent was an interesting departure from Hollywood moving pictures. It was great to attend a theatre: I don't remember the last time I actually went out to see a movie. read more

I love the movies TIFF plays. The sound and picture are exceptional. I expect I will be a regular here. However, I hate the place. The space itself is weird and creepy - even without Tim Burton there. Here's a litany of things I don't like about the place: 1) It feels like a museum, not a cinema and I consider that a bad thing. 2) Seating sucks. I don't know how I could stand a full week of screenings here. The seats are not comfortable for many reasons: 2a) They are thinly padded and the arms are quite short and unpadded. 2b) There is not enough curvature in the rows so seats on the ends are not facing the center of the screen. 2c) Row three in theatre 5 is particularly bad as it has a ledge where the floor should be, which limits the range of where you can place your feet. Gets very uncomfortable after a while. 3) Staff everywhere you look. Once you move away from the entrance, you quickly find yourself in hallways or concession lines where staff outnumber customers 2:1. Feels weird, like when you are in a museum and you cant focus on the art because all you can think about are the guards that are making sure you don't touch things. More importantly, I'd like this place to stick around and I don't see how can these staffing levels be sustainable. 4) Limited payment options. Sure, I get it, it's sponsored by VISA. But I'm your customer, TIFF, and how does inconveniencing your customers count as a positive experience for anyone, including the VISA brand. 5) Teeny-tiny fonts for the "what's playing" list. These result in longer line ups because customers are only able to read the sign once they are inches from the cashier. 6) Decor is too something or another. I can' t put my finger on it, but I think this place is soon going to have that same creepy yester-year feel that Ontario Place, the Science Centre and many other institutions never seem to shake free of. 7) WTF is that glass command central room about? It's a movie house, not a NASA command center. Is that the security camera watcher guy on display in there? If it was an editing suite where someone was making a film, great. But it's not, so it's just stupid and vaguely Orwellian. 8) Location sucks. When someone said "I know, let's put it blocks away from the subway in a spot that's overrun with traffic from every other entertainment venue, where parking is pricey and the surrounding restaurants are among the most touristy and least interesting in the city." everyone else should have said NAY. Whenever I have the choice of TIFF or somewhere else, I will choose somewhere else. However, I love the fact that I can see films here that I cannot see elsewhere. So unless the Fox, the Mount Pleasant and other decaying venues up their game, you'll find me here often and begrudgingly. read more

Theatre 1 is a fairly regularly sized megaloplex type screen. Big comfy chairs.

For Indie, Oldie, Classic, Canadian, or Film Festival movies, the TIFF's Bell Lightbox has a rotating choice of movies for everyone at some point. This really is going to be the start of Toronto's Cultural corridor of John Street- perhaps Hooters should start looking for a new location? The Tiff tower has food, a little curated museum area, and a regular movie theatre set up. There are 3 theatres, but not all have movies all the time. If a movie you want to see is here and at other theatres, this is certainly a destination site. Dress up to come here, or not. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. read more

I want to like this place more than I do, but I can't quite get there. There's an intimidating sense of formality to the layout of the building - I always feel like a security guard is going to stop me and ask me what I'm doing there. The waitstaff in the lounge area provide minimal service with an aloof air of superiority. Sorry guys - it must be a rough life when you have to serve non-celebrities like me! Also - why do you serve overpriced drinks in glasses full of ice when its -15 outside and I'm clearly freezing and still wearing my winter coat? $4 for a shot of Diet Coke should buy me a little sensitivity, no? Those complaints aside, I award 3 stars for decor that in no way resembles a carnival (unlike Cineplex) and bathrooms built for ball-gown traffic. read more

Decided to purchase a ticket to see El Bulli at TIFF Bell Lightbox since I'd heard really good things about this documentary (also read that this restaurant will be closing for good and becoming a food lab, so even more of an incentive to see the film). I absolutely love the layout and esthetic of this building. I've been before during film fest last year, but admittedly was unable to really take it in given the madness of film festival. When I was there the first time, I was in Cinema 1 and I have to say it is the best theatre I've ever been in...the seats were EXTREMELY comfortable and the sound was incredible. However, this time I was in Cinema 4 and to be honest, this cinema felt like a bit of a throwaway...the seats were hard, uncomfortable, with teensy tiny arm rests - since when do humans have T-Rex arms? The sound quality was ok. The theatre was small and filled to capacity, which personally, I prefer to an empty theatre where you expect tumbleweeds to blow down the aisles. I didn't try the concession stand, though the popcorn that the person sitting next to me was eating smelled amazing! A final note, the cost of tickets is reasonable, $12. All in all, 4 stars , would have given them 5 if the armrests in Cinema 4 had been designed with humans in mind. read more

I can't comment on the theatre because I only went to the Tim Burton exhibit. I must;first say that the exhibition is pretty awesome because Tim Burton is awesome. The layout was smushed and too crowded for my liking. The Toronto layout is chronological instead of by theme like they do in the MOMA. It was strange that some of the descriptions didn't quite match up with what they were talking about because of this new order. The space in general is quite impressive on the corner of King and John. The actual exhibit space, like I mentioned before is too small for the exhibition. My main complaint is the price. $24 for admission into something that is basically 2 rooms. OK it's cool, but not $24 cool, maybe $15. I feel like the exhibit price is subsidizing some of their other costs since opening. read more