Israeli filmmaker Avi Nesher's latest feature, "Our Loves," has been selected for the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, organizers announced Tuesday.
The film, Nesher's 21st feature, is based on true events and follows seven interconnected characters whose lives are upended by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. As the story unfolds, the characters grapple with new understandings of love, loss and survival.
The ensemble cast includes Shalom Michaelashvili, Maggie Azarzar, Yaniv Biton, Hadas Yaron, Evelin Hagoel, Noa Cohen, Kim Or Azulay and Lena Fraifeld.
"Our Loves" will screen in TIFF's Centrepiece program, which showcases notable films from around the world. The Toronto International Film Festival, held each September, is widely regarded as one of the key launchpads for the North American awards season and an important stop on the road to the Academy Awards.
The selection comes just days after the film received 12 nominations for the Ophir Awards, Israel's top film honors, including best picture, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
"We are pleased to see that the boycott against Israeli cinema is gradually crumbling and that Israeli films continue to earn a place at the world's leading festivals because of their quality and strength," said Liron Edri, head of marketing and distribution at United King Films, the film's distributor. Many of Nesher's previous films have also screened at TIFF.
Edri said the film's inclusion in the festival carries added significance because it tells "the Israeli story and what we experienced on that terrible day," while also focusing on healing, renewal and the possibility of growth after profound tragedy.
"We are extremely proud of Avi Nesher, the creative team and everyone involved," she said. "Ultimately, good cinema crosses borders, languages and prejudices, and we believe 'Our Loves' will resonate with international audiences."
The announcement follows a turbulent appearance by an Israeli film at last year's Toronto festival.
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Noam Tibon in 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue'
(Photo: Courtesy of TIFF)
In September 2025, Barry Avrich's documentary "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue," which chronicles Maj. Gen. (ret.) Noam Tibon's efforts to rescue members of his family from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, won the festival's People's Choice Award for documentaries.
Before its premiere, the festival briefly withdrew the documentary from its lineup, citing copyright concerns over Hamas footage used in the film. Organizers later reversed the decision following criticism and pressure from members of Toronto's Jewish community.
The screening ultimately proceeded under heavy security amid pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the venue, and TIFF's chief executive publicly apologized for the festival's initial decision.