Top 10 Tribeca Film Festival Tips

1. Buy Your Tribeca Film Festival Tickets In Advance

The best bet for getting to see the specific films and panels you want to see at the Tribeca Film Festival is to buy your tickets in advance. Obviously, this is fairly basic, but competition for door sales is fierce and purchasing tickets in advance is the only way to be sure you'll get to see the film you're interested in.

More: How To Buy Tickets to the Tribeca Film Festival

2. Consider a Tribeca Film Festival Ticket Pass or Package

See any film or panel, anytime with the Hudson Pass or pre-select screenings and panels with the Franklin Package. While the Hudson Pass ($1100) and Franklin Package ($450) might be out of your price range, there are a variety of less expensive packages that might interest you.

More: Tribeca Film Festival Passes and Packages

3. Get in Line Early If You're Picky (or With a Group)

Even with a ticket, you're only guaranteed a seat -- not necessarily 2 (or more) seats together. Also, your "guaranteed seat" may be in the front row of the theater if you're among the last in line for a popular movie at the Tribeca Film Festival.

4. Don't Be Late for the Tribeca Film Festival

Be in line at the venue at least 30 minutes before your screening begins in order to guarantee your admission. Include extra time if you need to pick up your tickets at Will Call beforehand.

5. Know Where To Get Your Will Call Tickets

From April 12-22 you can pick up your tickets at the Festival Box Office at 15 Laight Street, daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Once the festival begins, your tickets will be available at the Will Call window at the venue of your first screening or panel on the day of the event. Should you not get your tickets at the first event, they will be moved to the will call window of your next event.

Wait 24 hours for your order to be processed before you try to pick the tickets up.

6. Getting Tickets for Door Sales at the Tribeca Film Festival

Tickets are released for door sales 30 minutes before the screening begins, however, very few people tend to be admitted through door sales for the most popular screenings. This is due, in part, to the fact that festival pass holders are given access to the screenings before door sales begin. Weekday daytime screenings and screenings early in the festival tend to be the easiest for getting door sales tickets. Also good to know: door sale tickets are payable with cash only.

7. Waiting in Line = A Chance to Get Movie Tips

Make the most of the time you'll be spending queuing up to see movies -- ask fellow festival-goers if they've seen anything good (or bad). Early in the festival, this can be a great chance to discover some other films you may not have considered that you don't want to miss.

8. Check out a Tribeca Film Festival Panel Discussion

Going to the Tribeca Film Festival is not just about seeing movies -- the Tribeca Film Festival hosts a variety of Panel Discussions that are lively and interesting (and popular, so get your tickets early!).

More: Tribeca Talks Panels

9. See Something Different at the Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival is a great chance to stretch your film-going experience. If you normally check out blockbusters when you go to the movies, try something new, whether it's a documentary, a foreign film or even some short films.

10. Be Prepared for Celebrity Sightings at the Tribeca Film Festival

One of the great things about attending film festivals is that you've got a good chance of seeing actors and directors of your favorite films attending the festival. One of the best places to celebrity spot during peak times (7-9 p.m. daily) is at the Regal where photographers shoot pictures of celebrities on the red carpet.