The Toronto International Film Festival has reversed course, with Festival CEO Cameron Bailey announcing in a statement that he will work with the filmmakers of the October 7 documentary "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue," to fulfil the requirements to allow it to be screened at the festival.
The festival faced backlash earlier in the week after it pulled the documentary, which follows retired IDF Maj. Gen. Noam Tibon and his actions during and after the October 7 Hamas massacre, saying that it did not have "legal clearance for the filmed materials,” and referred to a “potential threat of significant disruptions. The decision came despite an initial plan to include the work by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich in the festival’s prestigious documentary lineup.
The legal clearance for footage seemed to refer to the Hamas-shot footage of murders committed on October 7, even though such clips have already circulated worldwide.
According to Deadline, which first reported the dropping of the documentary, the festival reportedly asked the filmmakers to re-edit certain sections and remove the Hamas-shot footage. TIFF denied ordering their removal but insisted on identifying the sources and obtaining legal permission to use them. The filmmakers were also required to purchase insurance for the festival in case of lawsuits and to hire security for the screening due to elevated safety concerns.
Bailey said in a statement that was also posted to social media that “I want to be clear: Claims that the film was rejected due to censorship are unequivocally false. I remain committed to working with the filmmaker to meet TIFF’s screening requirements to allow the film to be screened at this year’s festival. I have asked our legal team to work with the filmmaker on considering all options available."
He also said in the statement that he fully intended to screen the film, which is why he extended trhe invitation in the first place. "Given the sensitive and significant nature of the film's subject, I believe that it tells an important story and contributes to the rich tapestry of perspectives in our lineup- stories that resonate both here at home and around the world," Bailey said. "The events of October 7, 2023 and the ongoing suffering in Gaza weigh heavily on us, underscoring the urgent need for compassion amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia."
Tibon, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul, drove from his home in Tel Aviv to southern Israel on the morning of October 7, joining an IDF Maglan unit in Kfar Aza to help rescue residents — including his son, journalist Amir Tibon. Since that day, he has become one of the government’s most outspoken critics.
Avrich, a veteran Jewish-Canadian director, traveled to Israel to document Tibon’s story — both his battlefield heroism and his public opposition to the Netanyahu government. The film was completed in time for this year’s TIFF, and the production team had been told to expect a gala premiere. Last week, however, they discovered it had been quietly dropped from the official program.
The film is set to premiere in early September at a large public screening in Toronto organized by the local Jewish community, running parallel to the festival.
This is more than a״ scheduling change—it is a stand for truth against those who seek to erase it,” said David Koschitzky, Chair of WJC–North America. “By initially giving procedural weight to a terrorist group’s material, TIFF sent a chilling message. This reversal proves that truth can prevail.”
Brent S. Belzberg C.M., Chair of the WJC Canada Advisory Council, added: “We are proud to have helped ensure this film will be shown. TIFF’s reversal signals that truth-telling about terrorism is not negotiable.”