Vv Magazine’s Samantha Millar skips the lines at TIFF 2015 thanks to VISA Infinite, to see the world premiere of Desierto.

The Toronto International Film Festival brings an amazing energy to the city of Toronto. There’s the buzz of excitement as stars arrive, red carpets are rolled out and shiny new films roar to action. But unless you are one of those stars or you’re lucky enough to have someone on the ‘inside,’ getting into a festival film requires saint-like patience as queues form early to get first pick of seats.

As an actor and a film fan, I have spent many hours in TIFF lineups over the years. The excitement and the energy that surrounds each screening is enough compensation for the time invested, and the opportunity to see a much-hyped film before the rest of the world makes us actors feel a little closer to the limelight, if only for a moment.

All that considered, I decided to sit TIFF out this year. I had left it too late to buy tickets and my schedule didn’t allow the time needed to commit to all the queuing. Enter Scotiabank Momentum VISA Infinite Card, who had conveniently reserved seats at 3 different screenings for lucky customers including myself.

My partner and I scored 2 tickets to see the world premiere of Desierto, a film that I had not heard much about and so I had no idea what to expect when we took our seats in the front row balcony at the Elgin Theatre. My date quickly filled me in that the director of the film, Jonás Cuarón, also co-wrote Gravity, which happened to screen at TIFF in 2013. That was the entirety of my knowledge. Normally one goes to the movies having at least some idea of the plot, but not knowing anything really does bring a whole new element to movie watching—excitement mixed with slight trepidation that this could be the worst movie you’ve ever seen. Thankfully for us, that was certainly not the case.

The film focuses on a group of Mexican immigrants who are making their way across the border in search of a better life. When the truck they are travelling in breaks down, they are forced to continue on foot through the ‘badlands’ where they face a danger they could never have predicted in the form of Jeffery Dean Morgan, a vicious vigilante with a serious beef against immigrants, and a killer pooch.

While Gravity employed the vastness of space, Desierto similarly uses the desert as another character in the story—beautiful yet treacherous, a vast terrain that poses its own threats as our characters fight for survival in this intense thriller.

Thank you to Scotiabank Momentum VISA Infinite Card for a great night out at the movies. Switch your credit card now and experience a bevy of benefits as a VISA Infinite member, including a complimentary concierge that will help you with travel arrangements, gift purchases, and restaurant reservations; access to VISA Infinite’s Luxury Hotel Collection featuring around 800 luxurious properties and perks if booked through VISA Infinite; the opportunity to dine at their exclusive, gourmet Dining Series featuring private multi-course dining events with wine pairings; and other unique experiences tailored to VISA Infinite cardholders. Check out the whole range of opulent offers at VISA Infinite. You too could find yourself skipping the queue at next year’s TIFF!

Desierto is set for general release in January 2016.

Will you be watching Desierto when it hits theatres? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.