Surviving TIFF: Best tips from insiders, directors and festivalgoers

With a program that typically surpasses 350 films, myriad screenings across a large span of the busy downtowncore and acomplex ticketing system, the Toronto International Film Festival canseem daunting for first-timers, to say the least.

What's the best way to navigate the festival?

Click onthe video to watch TIFF insiders including the festival's chiefs,programmers, filmmakers and avid audience members who return each year share their personal advice on the best way to survive and enjoy the film frenzy.

• PHOTOS:TIFF 2013 red carpet highlights

In the second video from The National,Zulekha Nathoo tracks a day in the life of die-hard TIFFfans: from the cinephiles whose lives revolve around movie screenings during the fest to thedevoted star-gazers willing to weather anything for a brush with celebrity.

TheToronto International Film Festivalcontinues through Sept. 15.