When Sandi Leung visited a Toronto International Film Festival red carpet for the first time in 2015, she realized she could walk up to almost any part of the red carpet and – if she spent a few hours waiting – finagle a selfie with the likes of Eddie Redmayne or Kevin Bacon.
Lately, that feat has become increasingly difficult. Each year, Leung notices more of the once-open space surrounding the annual film festival’s red carpets is taken up by fan zones and corporate watch areas that are competitive to access or require you to be a customer of sponsor brands.
“It’s a lot of obstacles and variables nowadays compared to where it used to be,” said Leung, who commutes daily during the festival to the red carpets from Markham, Ont., in hopes of snagging snaps with the stars.
Leung’s observations come as TIFF, long considered the people’s festival because screenings are open to the public, is preparing to host its 50th edition next week. This year’s festival will see the world premieres of buzzy films like Guillermo del Toro’s rendition of “Frankenstein” and the third instalment of the “Knives out” series, and welcome stars as prolific as Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson.
But as regulars no, getting the chance to meet them will take more perseverance and patience. That’s because the free-for-all nature that used to exist around the carpet perimeters has been diluted by TIFF’s constantly changing policies and its need to appease sponsors.
“every year it changes, and every year it’s a cluster,” said Serena Tung, a Toronto woman who has met stars from Daniel Craig to Jennifer Lopez at TIFF red carpets over the last 20 years.asked about the erosion of free carpet spaces fans have observed, TIFF said it is indeed “committed to creating unique, memorable opportunities for audiences to engage with filmmakers, stars, and fellow film lovers.”
“Each year,we work to enhance the experience,notably at our flagship red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall,” vice-president of strategy,communications and stakeholder relations Judy Lung said in an email.The hall is TIFF’s glitziest venue, which is reserved for the biggest premieres.
Almost all of the space stretching from the spot where stars are dropped off in blacked out SUVs to where they enter the hall used to be open to fans to gather as they please. Now, much of the area is covered by corporate booths.
One of the biggest belongs to Rogers, TIFF’s presenting sponsor for a second year in a row. Rogers spokesperson Charmaine khan said the booth is meant to deliver a “premier entertainment” experience. It has a multi-level viewing space open to Rogers customers but a rush line for the public to join, if space permits.
Last year, Tung said she had to show the company that she was a wireless customer to get access to the booth and then scout a good spot among other entrants.
A similar space from Royal Bank of Canada invites its customers to sign up weeks in advance for free access to no more than two carpets. (non-customers are able to secure spots later in the process.)
Those who get a slot in the two-level booth are told the experience is “first-come, first-served.” The prized lower-level spaces, where you’re more likely to get your celeb selfies, are prioritized for Avion Rewards Elite members.
“Last year, my friend and I went early, about 1 1/2 hours before they started letting people in. We were probably in the first 10 people and we had to go upstairs,” Leung said. “We couldn’t sit downstairs next to the carpet area.
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