How to Survive the Film Festival

My mom is a film festival nut. She used to take her vacation time to cram in as many films as she could. We all know that we should not expect to see her much during the two plus weeks the festival runs. We've already started to prepare our son for how little he will see Grandma. The tears have started.

She takes her festival going pretty seriously, especially now that she’s retired. Here is her film festival survival kit. I hope it comes in handy. Good luck and enjoy.

You need a back pack, large enough to hold your provisions to make it through a long day of four films.

In the back pack you will need

• an umbrella (this is the Vancouver International Film Festival after all)
• a lunch so you can run straight from one film to the next
• a water bottle (gotta keep hydrated)
• another drink (why not)
• a watch with a light
• your festival program, which should never be out of your site
• a book for those long line-ups
• a pen to jot notes about the films other festival goers tell you about in line

Be ready to talk to anybody in line about the best and worst films they and you have seen. This is the best way to find out if your gameplan for what you’re going to see will need to be updated.

After you go through the program and decide what you want to see each day, you have to choose what you really, really want to see and how it fits in with other films you want to see. Sort of like a time table for school. Then when you talk to people standing in line, you might change your mind and have to redo your whole schedule for the day.

If you have one film finishing as your next film starts, you might have to miss the end of the first film to get a good seat for the second film. Then you will have to catch up with your film festival friends who stayed to the end to find out how the first film ended.

I have an Indiglo watch so that I can keep track of the time I will need to leave the first film in order to get to the next film. A watch with a light is essential festival going attire.

As the festival goes on, you will find that you can’t remember what you have seen without looking at your program. (all our brains turn to mush about day 12). Your guide will help you sort out what all these films were actually about.

Dress in layers. Some of the theatres are a bit cool and some are very warm.

Remember to enjoy the festival. That is the main reason you are there!

Thanks Mom.
Wm