Toronto: Giant Escalators Break at Press and Industry Screening Venue

Film critics and Hollywood execs had to climb a long staircase to see the movies playing at the Scotiabank Theatre on the first day of the festival.

Film critics and industry execs were burning off the popcorn calories Thursday morning at the Toronto Film Festival after the giant escalators at the event's press and industry screening venue, the Scotiabank Theatre, broke down on the event's first day.

"Technicians are on site working to bring them back up as soon as possible. This may cause some delays, so please allow more time to get to your P&I screenings," festival organizers said in a statement.

There's limited access to the multiplex's cinema screens via a passenger elevator. But otherwise it's quite a hike for Hollywood execs.

The Scotiabank multiplex's second-floor auditoriums are 45 feet above the ground-level lobby, a distance that film critics and Hollywood execs were having to walk up a long staircase to cover.

"TIFF is what, two hours in and already people are complaining about the heat and the Scotiabank escalator of terror being out of service," Toronto film critic Richard Crouse, who will moderate the festival's press conferences at Bell Lightbox, noted on his Twitter account.

TIFF is what, two hours in and already people are complaining about the heat and the Scotiabank escalator of terror being out of service. — Richard Crouse (@RichardCrouse) September 8, 2016

"Apologies for any inconvenience caused," the festival offered in a statement.