Bypassing Passes

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is often considered to be the world's most important film festival after Cannes. It has earned the title because of its ability to attract Oscar-calibre movies - 'Babel,' 'Crash' and 'Ray,' for example, were all shown at previous festivals - and their respective all-star casts. And with a line-up including Brad Pitt in 'The Assassination of Jesse James,' the Bob Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There' and director Paul Haggis' 'In The Valley of Elah,' this year looks like another banner instalment for TIFF.

It's this chance to see a number of high profile films virtually inside of a week that draws many to the festival. Others come to watch relatively unknown foreign films or to be among the first to catch the next 'Saw' or 'Borat.' But anyone who's been in town during the fest knows that even rush tickets (last-minute passes that go on sale an hour before each screening) command line-ups that snake around the city. So what should you do if you just couldn't be bothered to queue up with the rest of the proles? In that case, you're either going to have to settle for missing your sneak peek at Brad in cowboy garb or you're going to have to do something that's a little, well, dodgy.

While it's not exactly proper etiquette, you could attempt to buy a ticket off someone who's already in line to see the film you want to catch. If you're offering a relatively unused X-box or, perhaps, a couple of newborn kittens, it could be relatively easy to pry tickets from your target. Be sure to avoid approaching anyone who looks like a film fanatic (they are usually dressed head to toe in paraphernalia) and instead focus on bored-looking significant others. Brazenly flirting with companions

Paul Haggis' 'In the Valley of Elah' is one of the films you may find it next to impossible to get into.

could actually result in you not having to ask for a ticket at all as the girlfriend or boyfriend of said object of flirtation may just get sick of the whole charade and throw her ticket in your face and storm off. Then you'll have a date AND a pass.

If you're lucky, someone else might be actively trying to sell their tickets at the same time that you're actively seeking them. If this is the case, act non-chalant to avoid paying exorbitant prices (but not too non-chalant that the seller moves on to someone else) and be sure to remain discreet since you're probably not the only Joe who's on the hunt for passes.

Very rarely, the above options may be unavailable to you and that's where you might have to move to the dark side. Have a little sit down and ask yourself: "Is this film worth sneaking into the theatre?" If the answer is yes (even a meek one), be prepared to act quickly and calmly. Once you've gotten inside the cinema (via a back door or simply by remaining behind after a previous showing), act as natural and discreet as possible. If you succeed in slipping through an improperly shut side door, avoid the temptation to grab a seat right away and cheer about how you have stuck it to the man. Instead, survey your environment and wait until the last possible minute to secure your position. In this way you appear to the average onlooker as a seasoned festival goer who knows she can dip into the washroom five minutes before a screening and still have time to make it to her spot for the opening credits.

And, remember, while you are seated, pray quietly that the ticket holder whose seat you're in does not show up to claim his or her rightful spot.

Partying with the Beautiful People

Don Ellis, the co-founder of Toronto's online black book for clubs, Martini Boys, believes that 90 percent of festival attendees are there for the movies. And the other 10 percent? They're there to party. He expects that Roots and Hugo Boss will once again throw the best parties in the city. Clubs Lobby, Ultra Supper Club, Kultura and the private club L'Atelier will be hosting a slew of smaller, but just as exclusive, events.

The aforementioned parties are the ones you read about in local gossip columns and, usually, the only "ordinary people" found at these events are working them. "Saying 'I'm with the band' isn't going to work," says Ellis. In other words, you can think about crashing these events but expect to get a major ass whooping if you do. There's a reason these parties are considered 'exclusive,' security is tight and unless you have a ticket (or have somehow managed to persuade some hot young starlet to accompany you in) you're not getting past the red carpet.

In 2006, Sharon Stone made like a duck and revealed how a simple black dress can work wonders at TIFF. (Getty)

If you're not too fussed about rubbing shoulders with Jake Gyllenhaal or George Clooney, however, you could score yourself a ticket to an event that's lower on the pole - if you're good looking enough. "Ultra's PR people might get a call saying let 200 beautiful people in because we want this to be a spectacular party and that's what will happen," Ellis says. These aesthetically inclined fetes are usually advertised by word-of-mouth, so if you want to attend, get your cleavage out and start befriending the staff at Toronto's hippest haunts.

Second-string parties lack the star-power and free booze that populate a Hugo Boss party, but they can still be a lot of fun. And, who knows, says Ellis, "Sometimes once you make it into one party, someone might hand you tickets to another." What's so bad about hanging out with Corey Feldman on Friday in order to hobnob with Sean Penn on Saturday?

Dressing for Success, Sometimes

With so much focus being put on beautiful Hollywood stars, it's easy to fall prey to the belief that TIFF means glamorous dresses by the likes of Zac Posen and Karl Lagerfeld. But the truth is, if you're there to watch movies, there's no real need to get your glam on. "Screenings are really low-key," explains Toronto-based stylist Laura Minquini. "Just wear whatever you would normally wear when you go to the movies."

If you find yourself invited to a TIFF party do dress up but be careful not to show up like some overdressed Victoria Beckham clone; Minquini warns that there's a fine line between glamour and tackiness. "If you think you're looking too fabulous you probably are and you should tone it down," she says. Unless you find yourself prancing around at the premiere gala, stay away from full-length gowns and tuxedoes and stick instead to simple and comfortable cocktail dresses or suits. "If you were to get a grey sweater dress, a grey pair of tights and a grey pair of shoes you would look very trendy and appropriate," Minquini says. Other trends to check out include solid, bright colours and '40s style shoes which, with their rounded toes and thicker heels, are ideal for partying the night away.

Ideal places to pick up an afforable TIFF party frock include H&M and FCUK while Minquini recommends Stella Luna if you prefer something vintage. If you're going to go cheap-but-trendy, try to also include what Minquini calls "a one good piece." She recommends shoes from TNT or Holt Renfrew if your budget will allow it but other accessories, like a high-end bag or jacket, would also work. Failing that, go the Elizabeth Hurley route and use safety pins. Hey, it made her career for the next two decades.