When the steady-cam elite flock to Vancouver to take in what’s becoming more of an artistic shift in film than a “big premiere, big stars, big buzz” festival (uhhhh…TORONTO/CANNES anyone???), there are certain festival elements that occur in tradition: a movie, SEEING it, going to the party after.

In honor of the mingling that comes after sitting in the dark for a prolonged period of time watching a giant screen, or being “taken away” as the case may be, comes MBO’S informative list of how/where to hit the party, and more importantly, how/where to FIND it.

This being Vancouver, and a festival of film, and the sometimes elitism that goes along with such prestige, there is always some type of exclusive gala after a screening of an exclusive film that feels, well…exclusive. Having said that, read this: INVITE ONLY. At most festivals, after parties are reserved for the filmmakers, their cast and their respective posses, hence the tossing around of words like “gala”, “private” and “invite”.

But going to parties you’re not invited to is all that much more fun really. And if the party truly is guest-list ridden, it only means one thing: OPEN BAR.

Here’s how you get in:

Go to the movie. Sure, you may not necessarily want to sit in the dark for a foreign 2 hours and forty minutes, but if you’re a fan of the director or his work or his choice in actors, get thee to the cinema and get thee a seat somewhere around someone who seems important. It sounds so slimy, but I’m trying to help here is all. The key to being close: EAVESDROP. Someone somewhere is going to be talking about the after party, and if they don’t do it before the movie, they’re going to be doing it AFTER the movie. That big group of people cluttered together in a mob like fashion? Go stand by them.

They know where they’re going and you don’t. Worse case scenario: ASK someone. And when you do, you ask like this: “I just loved the film…Are there going to be drinks somewhere where I can give my regards?” Something like that: compliment. Ask.