Alright, planning my film festival trip finally happened! It felt like organizing a little expedition. Had this itch to go to the big city festival everyone talks about, but honestly? The sheer size was kinda scary at first. Where do you even start? Tickets? Where to sleep? What films to see? Total chaos potential. So, I dug into planning mode like it was a puzzle.
Starting Simple: Tickets & Dates
Step one? Hit the official festival website. That thing became my bible for a hot minute. Scrolled straight to the “Passes & Tickets” section. Boom! Found out they had tiers: full festival pass (way too rich for my blood), smaller packages, and single tickets. Decided early access was key, so I scribbled down the ticket release date in my planner like it was a court summons. Set a reminder on my phone too – no way was I missing out.
Checked the schedule next. Realized the festival ran almost two weeks! Couldn’t take that much time off, so I eyeballed the dates focusing on the opening weekend buzz and maybe a midweek chunk where competition might be less crazy.
Location, Location, Sleep!
Knew the festival zone would be spread across several venues downtown. Pulled up a map online and just zoomed around the blocks near those main theaters. Started searching hotels within walking distance or easy subway access.
Okay, reality check: prices were nuts! Quickly learned booking way ahead is non-negotiable. Found a slightly cheaper spot a few subway stops away, but checked the route carefully. Made sure the subway ran late enough for those evening screenings. Bit the bullet and booked it that same night. Felt like dodging a bullet.
The Film Feeding Frenzy
Now for the fun part – picking movies! But man, the lineup was huge. Hundreds of films! This is where I slowed down. Scanned through categories I like: documentaries, thrillers, indies. Read the blurbs on the website and flagged anything catching my eye.
My strategy? Mix of big names and complete unknowns.
- Must-sees: Couple of the headline-grabbers everyone was talking about.
- Big Q&As: Noted screenings where the director or stars would show up – that’s always a blast.
- Little Gems: Picked a few smaller films, ones without big stars, just based on a gut feeling from the description.
- Backups: Always had 2nd and 3rd choices lined up in case my top picks sold out fast.
Made a little spreadsheet – days, times, venues, film names, priority level. Kept it loose, knowing things could change on the ground.
Gear & Grub Game
Started thinking about actual survival gear.
- Comfort over style: Packed my most broken-in shoes. So. Much. Walking.
- Layer up: Venues go from roasting hot to freezing air-con madness. T-shirt + hoodie + packable jacket combo saved me.
- Power bank: Phone was glued to the schedule app and taking pics. Never left home without a charged power bank.
- Snacks & Water: Festival food lines? Brutal and pricey. Threw granola bars and a refillable water bottle in my bag daily. Saved time and cash.
Did some quick searches for affordable lunch spots near my main venues. Found a decent sandwich place and a coffee shop as my refueling stations.
The Rollercoaster Ride Begins
Got there, checked in, grabbed my physical tickets/passes. Already the energy was buzzing! Stuck to my plan mostly but stayed flexible.
- Early Bird Wins: Showed up stupidly early for popular screenings. Got great seats.
- Chatted Up Staff: Volunteers and staff knew all the hidden gems and queue shortcuts. Asked them stuff!
- Embraced the Wait: Long lines were inevitable. Just chatted with other festival-goers – instant movie pals.
- Schedule Tweak: Ditched one mid-tier film I flagged because I overheard amazing buzz about something else and scrambled to grab a ticket. Zero regrets!
Kept expectations realistic. Didn’t try to cram in 5 movies a day – maxed out at 3 or 4 and planned downtime. Burnout is real! Ended up seeing 4 amazing films I might never get to see otherwise, went to a fantastic Q&A, and met cool people who loved the same weird indie stuff I did. Totally worth the planning chaos upfront!
Key takeaways? Be flexible. Don’t overpack your schedule. Book key stuff WAY ahead. Wear comfy shoes. Always bring snacks. Enjoy the madness!
