HIFF28: How-To Guide

Click the links below for all you need to know about how to make the most of the 2020 Hamptons International Film Festival.


How to watch as a Ticket Holder

How to watch as a Pass Holder (Virtual Discovery, Virtual Insider, Founder)

If you have read through the instructions above and below, and you still need assistance…

How to Attend: Tickets + Passes
Drive-Ins + Outdoor Screenings
Virtual Cinema Overview
Virtual Cinema: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Step-By-Step Guide
Still Have Questions?


HOW TO ATTEND HIFF

Browse the Film Guide to purchase your tickets.
(Download a hard copy here.)
There is no in-person Box Office for HIFF28.

Buy tickets by Wednesday 10/14, and watch through Friday 10/16.

(Virtual Discovery Passes bought 10/6 or later do NOT include the Filmgoer membership.)

There will be no Rush Lines for Drive-Ins or Outdoor Screenings. No tickets will be sold on site.

There are a limited number of streams available for every film.
Tickets are on sale now.


A Night Out at the Drive-In

We are delighted to present nine films at our Drive-In screenings in East Hampton and Amagansett.

View the schedule here.

You must buy tickets ahead of time; there will be no Rush Line. The films will begin promptly at 7pm each night, and all vehicles MUST arrive, check in, and settle into their viewing space 30 minutes prior to the film start time. In the case of inclement weather, rain dates will be announced.

Note: the sound for the films will come through your car radio (station TBA on site).


 

Outdoor Screenings

View the Scheduled Films Grid here.

Two films will screen under the stars at the Southampton Arts Center on October 11 and 12, with filmgoers seated on the lawn at 25 Jobs Lane. Advanced tickets are required, and all guests must follow CDC guidelines as instructed. Stay tuned for further information.


Virtual Cinema Overview

View A Conversation With interviews, Winick Talks, and most films in our Virtual Cinema at your leisure—beginning at 10am on Friday, October 9—throughout the festival, all from the comfort of home, using the instructions below.

However, select films are ONLY available during 3hr screening windows, indicated as SCHEDULED VIRTUAL SCREENINGS. For these films, you will select a ticket for a specific scheduled screening time, and then have three hours from that start time to complete the film. View the Scheduled Films Grid here.

In most cases, films may be viewed from anywhere in the United States. A select few films are geographically restricted to viewers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts; these are indicated in the Online Film Guide, where you will purchase tickets. READ CAREFULLY.


VIRTUAL CINEMA FAQ
(download PDF)

What is a “Watch Window”?
A watch window is how long you have to watch a film once you hit ‘PLAY’.

How long are watch windows?
Most films have 48hr watch windows, but some have shorter windows. Some films in the festival are scheduled at specific times with shorter watch windows of 3hrs. Be sure to read carefully on each page of the Film Guide.

Can I pause or rewind during the watch window?
Yes, you have complete access to the entire program during your watch window.

When can I watch movies?
Most films in the festival are available to stream from October 9-14, 2020, beginning at 10:00am on Friday, October 9. In most cases, once you hit ‘PLAY’ you will have 48hrs to complete the film before your viewing window closes. Some films in the festival are scheduled at specific times with shorter watch windows of 3hrs. Be sure to read carefully on each page of the Film Guide. View the Scheduled Films Grid here.

How many times can I watch a film with my Founder or Virtual Discovery Pass?
Passholders may watch films ONE (1) time each. If a film has a watch window of 48hrs, and the PLAY button has been pressed (i.e. the film watch window has begun), 48hrs later the film availability will expire—regardless of whether or not the film has been watched in full. Pass holder will not be able to start the film again.

Can I watch the films from anywhere in the USA?
You can watch most films from anywhere in the USA, but a select few are limited to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The restrictions are noted on each page of the Film Guide, where applicable.

What communication can I expect when I purchase a Ticket or Pass?
Once you purchase a ticket or pass you will receive a confirmation email that details what you purchased and how much you spent—like a receipt.

Passholders will receive a second email with a link inviting them to JOIN the Hamptons Film online viewing portal. Once joined, all films the passholder has access to will be available in this portal.

Ticket Holders will receive a second email with a Virtual Access VIEW link, which will take them to the watch portal for the film of their choosing (if the film is not immediately available to watch, this access email will be sent out 1hr prior to each film’s watch window).

In addition to the link, Ticket Holders will also receive a VOUCHER CODE, which can be used to access the film via our dedicated apps on Apple TV or Roku devices, if that is their preferred viewing method.

How do I watch films on my TV?
There are three methods to watch films on your TV:

    1. Download our dedicated “Hamptons Film” app for Roku or AppleTV (Gen 4 and above)
    2. Cast from a computer or Android phone/tablet using the Chrome browser to a Chromecast device
    3. AirPlay from a computer, iPhone or iPad to an AppleTV (Gen 2 and above) or to any Smart TV bearing the “AirPlay” badge

How do I watch films on my iPad or Tablet?
In your browser, navigate to watch.hamptonsfilmfest.org
System Requirements:
• Android: use Chrome on Android 6.0 or later
• iPhone/iPad: use Safari on iOS 11.2 or later
[screen mirroring is not supported, set to OFF]

How do I watch films on my PC or Mac computer?
In your browser, navigate to watch.hamptonsfilmfest.org
System Requirements:
• PCs running Windows 7+
[Browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera]
• Intel-based Macs running macOS 10.12+
[Browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera]

Do I need to download the Hamptons Film app?
No, you do not need to download and install the app to watch. However, you may wish to download the Hamptons Film app on Apple TV or Roku devices to watch on your TV, iPad, or Tablet.

If you are using the app to watch content:
Ticket Holders will unlock the purchased films with the voucher code received in the Virtual Access email.
Passholders will use their login credentials to open the app and all films available to them will be listed there.

Troubleshooting: Why does video playback stall or not play smoothly?
We use adaptive bitrate streaming, which means the streaming quality will automatically adjust based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is weak or inconsistent, you may experience problems during playback. If you’re on wifi, try moving closer to your router.


Virtual Cinema Step-By-Step Guide
(download PDF)

WATCH AS A TICKET HOLDER

WATCH AS A PASS HOLDER (VIRTUAL DISCOVERY PASS, VIRTUAL INSIDER PASS, FOUNDER PASS)


Still have questions?

We hope we have answered all your questions in the detailed instructions above.

If you need assistance…

  • Call Center (631) 825-0050
    September 21 – October 16: 12 – 4pm (M-F)
    October 8 – 14: 10am – 8pm