The Bell Lightbox features free film screenings and special exhibits like the Essential 100 installation. (Pawel Dwulit/Canadian Press)

By Roger Rousseau, citizen contributor

If, like me, you've already spent your entire TIFF budget without attending a single screening in the Lightbox, a special program in this year's festival might interest you: TIFF for Free. As the title indicates, it's a series of free, nightly film screenings held at the Lightbox from now until the end of the festival. Even though all of the films are taken from TIFF's past, I figured that this would be a great opportunity to check out the Lightbox theatres, as well as take in at least one film that I've never seen, Outrageous!, and one old favourite, The Big Chill. And since Outrageous! was the first film of the program, it also presented me with the opportunity to give you the lowdown on this event.

Unfortunately, my TIFF for Free experience didn't start well, and it was entirely my fault. The original press release for the program stated that tickets could be picked up from the Lightbox box office on the day of the screening on a first come, first served basis. I assumed that I could arrive any time during the day to pick up my ticket. I arrived at 2 p.m. only to discover that I could not pick up the ticket until two hours before the screening, which was at 7 p.m. So, I returned home, had an espresso, and double-checked that the info about the pre-screening two-hour ticket pick-up time was listed on the TIFF website. It was. Lesson 1: Make sure your info is up to date.

When I returned to the Lightbox at 5 p.m., the box office staff informed me that tickets were being distributed outside. I went outside, but couldn't find anyone handing out tickets. I tried to ask one of the volunteers for help, but they were busy helping other patrons. Eventually, I noticed a lineup that had a TIFF sign in front of it, but that had neither "Rush Line," nor "Ticket Holder Line" printed on it. I asked the folks in line what they were waiting for. "Outrageous! tickets," they replied. Bingo! Lesson 2: When the volunteers are busy, ask other TIFFers.

Then, I had some dinner and returned for 6 p.m. to join the ticket holders line. Problem was, I couldn't find the line. I asked outside, and they told me it was inside. I asked inside, and they told me it was outside. I went outside and they told me there wasn't really a line. Huh? Then I was told that there was just one ticket holder line for the next two films: The Sleeping Beauty and Outrageous! And, to further add to the confusion, that line was running parallel to the rush line for the previous film. And, there was a fire truck parked in front of the building. Why was it there?

To everyone's credit, patrons and volunteers were all patient with each other. There seemed to be an understanding that because the Lightbox is new, some logistics still need to be worked out. And, as developments occurred, the volunteers would let us know what was going on. Turns out that we were delayed being let in because of a medical emergency inside, which is why the fire truck was there. As the ticket holders for both films were let in, there was still more confusion and slip ups, but by that point it had all become a part of the dance. Lesson 3: We're all in this together, TIFFers and volunteers (leave the "vs." at home).

And finally, I was seated in the theatre. Unexpectedly, Piers Handling was there to introduce the film, and so was TIFF co-founder Bill Marshall, who was one of the producers of Outrageous! And the film itself? It was wonderful. I can't believe that I had never heard about this film until I saw it listed in the TIFF program. It's a touching, joyful film that's a time capsule for a late 1970s Toronto. And it made me completely forget about my earlier troubles obtaining the ticket and waiting in line; that is, until I had to relive it all over again to write this post. Lesson 4: Sometimes it's better to just remember the movie.

Note: Not all the seats were full, so I assume that not all of the free tickets were given away. Since Outrageous! is probably the least known of the films in the program, I expect that attendance will probably increase throughout the week. A fellow TIFFer speculated that Friday's screening of Deepa Mehta's Water might become a hot ticket. I'm inclined to agree.

You can follow Roger throughout #TIFF10 on twitter at @roger_writes