‘How about turn it off completely’: TIFF phone policy sparks backlash

Phones lighting up in a dark movie theatre are enough to annoy plenty of film fans. So a notice appearing before some TIFF screenings this year is predictably getting a reaction.

At the Toronto International Film Festival’s Press & Market screenings, attendees are being told that limited use of electronic devices for emails and texts is permitted, as long as sound is off and use is kept to a minimum.

“Phone Policy: Limited use of devices for email and texting purposes is allowed,” the onscreen notice reads. “Please be courteous to other members of the audience by keeping device usage to a minimum and the sound off.”

In previous years, TIFF prohibited press and cinephiles alike from using their phones. The prohibition was strict and required people to put away their phones or turn it off to avoid distraction.

Traditionally, accredited Press and Industry screenings had exceptions for taking notes, but public screenings remained a no-phone zone.

But that strict rule has loosened, and journalists and cinephiles alike are complaining about the phone policy.

TIFF #8

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— TheClubOrtiz@TIFF (@RobertoTylerOr1) September 11, 2026

‘How about turn it off completely’

Some responses were less than enthusiastic.

“If you can’t make it through one film without using your phone… you have NO business being at a film festival in any capacity,” one X user wrote.

“How about turn it off completely, wtf,” another said.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL F***? Come on TIFF, get a grip!” another added.

The pushback comes amid broader complaints about phone etiquette at this year’s festival. In a separate discussion among TIFF attendees, people described audience members repeatedly checking phones during screenings and called for stricter enforcement. 

But there’s an important distinction: this isn’t the policy for every TIFF screening.

TIFF’s terms for ticketed public screenings still state that electronic devices must be silenced and “stowed away during screenings.” Cameras and recording devices are also prohibited.

Why Press & Market screenings are different

The looser guidance is showing up at TIFF’s Press & Market screenings, formerly known as Press & Industry screenings.

Those screenings are specifically designed for accredited journalists and industry professionals. A TIFF press pass grants access to Press & Market screenings as well as TIFF’s newly launched industry market, while regular public screenings operate separately. 

That distinction has prompted some people to defend the policy.

“For people complaining about the phone policy: this isn’t a regular festival screening; it’s part of the market,” one X user wrote. “The people in the audience work in distribution or exhibition and may genuinely need to use their phones while watching.”

Another was less enthusiastic but understood the logic.

“I hate phones in movies, but this has always kinda been a thing at press screenings, so it feels like TIFF just gave up and went ok fine, we’re gonna let you do the thing you were already doing,” they wrote.

TIFF has put considerably more emphasis on the business side of the festival this year with the launch of TIFF: The Market, its first formal content marketplace. More than 6,000 industry delegates were expected in Toronto for the 2026 festival.

Phones remain off-limits for public screenings

For anyone heading to a regular TIFF movie, however, the rule remains much simpler: put the phone away.

TIFF’s official conditions say devices must be silenced and stowed during screenings, while unauthorized filming or photography can result in removal from the theatre. 

So the controversy isn’t really over TIFF suddenly letting everyone text through a movie.

It’s over whether even working journalists and industry attendees should be doing it once the lights go down.