Each year, the 11-day Toronto International Film Festival, also known as TIFF, brings celebrities and film enthusiasts from around the world to the city.

It also brings TTC streetcar delays.

For the fifth consecutive year, King St. W. was closed for the festival between University and Spadina Aves. from last Thursday to 5 a.m. Monday, forcing changes to the 504, 304 and 514 streetcar routes and delaying riders.

This year’s closure has proven more controversial as it arrives in spite of the King St. pilot project, designed to expedite traffic between Bathurst and Jarvis Sts.

To compensate, TIFF and the TTC gave riders vouchers for free movie tickets, valid both during the festival or at the TIFF Bell Lightbox until Dec. 31. Those who signed up in time were treated to a bonus screening of the festival’s opening night film, Outlaw King, starring Chris Pine, on Sunday morning.

In a news release, the organizations said the move was intended to make the festival more accessible to the Toronto community, opening it up to all TTC riders with a Metropass or Presto card.

Last year, TIFF gave away free popcorn for 20,000 riders. This year, riders received 4,800 free tickets at a total value of $96,000 for year-round screenings at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and daytime TIFF screenings, plus Sunday’s screening at Roy Thomson Hall.

The intent this year was to thank everyday customers who were inconvenienced travelling along King St. routes, said TTC spokesperson Stuart Green.

“Working with TIFF, we sort of came up with a way to thank them for their patience during the festival closure,” Green said.

With files from Marjan Asadullah and Alexandra Jones