FAQ
In-Person Events
When is the Festival?
The 2nd Edition of the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival will take place June 2–4, 2023, and the 44th Edition of TIFA, Canada’s largest and longest-running festival of words and ideas, will take place September 21 – October 1, 2023.
Where is the Festival held?
MOTIVE and TIFA take place at Harbourfront Centre. A few select events will take place elsewhere. For specific venue locations, please review each event’s dedicated webpage. Learn more about getting to Harbourfront Centre here.
Where do I purchase tickets for the Festival?
Programme information for MOTIVE and TIFA will be announced in 2023.
To purchase tickets for year-round events online, browse the online box office here. Alternatively, you can contact Harbourfront Centre’s box office at 416-973-4000 (select option #1) or tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com for help purchasing tickets
Are there any discounts for book clubs?
Yes! Book Clubs can save 25% on ticket prices when booking five or more tickets to the same event, by calling the Harbourfront Centre Box Office 416-973-4000 (choose option 1).
How can I buy the book?
The Festival’s official booksellers are Indigo and Rakuten Kobo. E-books and audiobooks can be purchased from Kobo, and paperbacks or hardcovers can be purchased from Indigo. Browse the full 2022 Festival reading list here.
Will there be book signings?
Yes! Most authors will be signing books immediately after their scheduled events. Be sure to check individual event listings closer to the event for location details. Book signings are free to attend.
How will my visit be impacted by COVID-19?
Following Ontario provincial health guidelines, Harbourfront Centre has modified its restrictions at its campus and venues. They are as follows:
- As of May 2, 2022, visitors to Harbourfront Centre’s campus and venues will no longer be required to wear a mask; however, we strongly recommend doing so.
- Harbourfront Centre will no longer be checking proof of vaccination for the public, but the mandatory vaccination policy for staff, contractors, artists and volunteers continues to be in effect.
- Health and safety precautions, including enhanced cleaning routines, remain in place, and we ask that any visitors who feel unwell to please postpone their visit.
For more health and safety information, click here.
I can’t make it to events in person, can I watch the live events from home?
No. At this time, the events taking place live and in person will not be available to view digitally unless otherwise noted on the event page.
I purchased tickets to an event, but never received the ticket in my email!
Please email tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com with your booking information, and a member of the Harbourfront Centre box office will re-issue your tickets. If you haven’t received the tickets by the day of the event, please visit the box office onsite to seek further assistance.
What is TIFA’s refund policy?
Please note that ticket sales are final and non-refundable unless an event is cancelled or postponed. In these rare circumstances, ticket-holders will be notified by phone or email of the event cancellation or postponement and a refund for the ticket(s) purchased will be issued. A notice will also be posted on the website and at the venue.
Questions about ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com.
Digital Events
How do I sign up to access digital events?
Please check individual event pages for details whether an event will be available to watch digitally.
If the event will stream online at festivalofauthors.ca, you can register simply by clicking here and creating a free account, or use your existing Harbourfront Centre login information. Once you’re logged into the website, click the “Register” button on the digital events you wish to watch.
Oops – I missed my digital event’s start time!
Events that take place on Zoom, or that are produced by third-party partners, are only available to view live.
However, events that will take place on festivalofauthors.ca will remain active for all registrants to view for three (3) days after their initial broadcasts, and for ten (10) days for TIFA’s donating Friends and for an unlimited time for TIFA’s Patrons. You may become a Friend or Patron at any time to unlock this extra viewing time.
Do I need to sign up and register in order to watch digital events?
Yes. It is necessary to sign up on the website in order to register for and watch events taking place directly on the TIFA website. For events taking place on Zoom, you will need to follow the instructions on the event page to register to watch online.
However, you may explore TIFA’s podcasts and the Small Press Interactive Map without being logged in to the website.
Help! I can’t access my digital event!
If you are trying to access digital events on festivalofauthors.ca, here is a check list: 1) Make sure you have signed up for a free online account on the website, and that you are actively signed in. You must have an account in order to register for events, and you must be signed in to watch them. 2) Once you are signed in to your account, ensure you have clicked the “register” button on the event page. The video window will only appear once you have clicked “register”.
If you need help with other digital events, the support team at support@festivalofauthors.ca. is on standby to assist you, Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm ET, plus during events.
My digital event doesn’t seem to be playing…
Once you are logged in to your TIFA web account, the digital event should automatically begin playing in the video window at its scheduled start time. If an event is delayed, we will let you know by posting a message in the chat box. If you think the event has started, but your video hasn’t begun to play, try refreshing your webpage (some web browsers require this step). Still need assistance? Type us a message in the event chat box, and a support team member will happy to help.
If the event takes place on Zoom or another platform, the support team at support@festivalofauthors.ca. is on standby to assist you, Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm ET, plus during events.
My video doesn’t have any sound!
The first time you watch an event on our website it might be necessary to adjust the video settings to enable audio. To do this, hover over the video’s toolbar (lower right-hand side of the video) and click the volume setting to un-mute. Need more help? The support team at support@festivalofauthors.ca. is on standby to assist you, Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 5pm ET, plus during events.
Can I watch digital events from overseas?
Most likely, yes! Digital events are open to everyone around the world, however, access and optimal viewing quality may be limited in areas where internet connections are unstable.