The New York Film Festival is on and no matter what your budget there are ways to get in on the fun. From free talks and rush tickets to podcasts where you can follow along at home, we’ve put together an outline of all the fest’s great budget-friendly options.

For those that dig on what goes on behind the scenes or like to go over films with a fine-tooth comb, there are a number of free talks to attend. From now through Saturday, October 15, the festival is hosting daily conversations with filmmakers, screenwriters, film critics and more. Among these are the returning HBO Directors Dialogues, which this year put Ang Lee (Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk) (Oct. 15), Mike Mills (20th Century Women) (Oct. 9), and Paul Verhoeven (Elle) (Oct. 13) in the hot seat. The NYFF Live program features panels on the making of Dash Shaw’s My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea (Oct. 12) and Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (Oct. 3), as well as chats with Sônia Braga (Aquarius) (Oct. 10), Steve James (Abacus: Too Small to Jail) (Oct. 7), and Gael Garcia Bernal (Neruda) (Oct. 6). Film Comment, which is published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, is also hosting a few roundtable discussions, including one on Oct. 8 featuring filmmakers Alison Maclean (The Rehearsal), Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper), and controversial Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius). The talks take place at the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. If you are interested in attending, you need to pick up a ticket from the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center box office. Tickets are limited and are available starting one hour before the event begins. For a complete list of talks, visit the festival’s website.

If you miss a talk, there is a chance it might show up on the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s podcast, The Close-up. A panel on the making the festival’s opening night film, 13th, is already posted. You can listen in here. Also, the Film Society of Lincoln Center has a history of posting festival press conferences and other fun content on its YouTube channel, which you can find here.

Priya’s Mirror

Those interested in new and innovative approaches to cinematic storytelling can check in on two projects in the fest’s Convergence section. Priya’s Mirror, an augmented reality comic book, and Lives in Transit, a documentary video installation created by Global Lives Project, are on view for the duration of the festival and are free to explore.

As for attending festival screenings, the rush ticket program is great way to go. The festival will regularly update their website with which screenings are eligible for rush tickets. You can find that information here (we suggest bookmarking that page and checking it daily). The screenings on the list that take place at venues other than Alice Tully Hall will only set you back $7, while the screenings at ATH are $15.

As far as other tips for going budget, we suggest looking at the second screenings of films. These screenings usually take place at smaller theaters and are $5 cheaper than the screenings at Alice Tully Hall. Becoming a member of the Film Society of Lincoln Center is also a money saver if you’re thinking of purchasing tickets to more than a handful of films. Members enjoy $5 off tickets to all regular festival screenings, $10 off Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, and $25 off the opening, centerpiece and closing nights. Plus, FSLC has terrific programming throughout the year for which you’ll receive discounted admission, as well as the chance to purchase tickets before anyone else for popular series like New Directors/New Films, Film Comment Selects and Dance on Camera. You can find out more about membership here.