Masks no longer optional at theaters screening TIFF films

The Toronto International Festival is going ahead with limited, in-person screenings. At first, there was an option for customers to wear a mask while entering the theater, but they were then permitted to remove it once in their "assigned in-cinema seats."

This is far more lax than most North American and European cinema chains, which require patrons to wear masks the entire time they are in the theater. Even the Venice Film Festival has made mask wearing a requirement while people are in theaters, whether the movie is playing or not.

However, yesterday evening, TIFF announced on their Twitter account that festival goers must keep their masks on 100 percent of the time they are inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox. They wrote:

"We’re aware of recent public health reports indicating an increase in COVID cases in the GTA. We have made the decision that for the safety and peace-of-mind of #TIFF20 patrons, TIFF Bell Lightbox will close its concession stands, eliminating a point of contact for patrons.

"As no food or beverage will be consumed on site, TIFF requires that masks are worn for the entirety of the time patrons are in TIFF Bell Lightbox, including while seated during screenings."

Other safety precautions include limiting the Bell Lightbox venue to 50 socially distanced patrons per screen.

This year's Toronto International Film Festival takes place from September 10 to 19, 2020. ~Alexandra Heilbron