After the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) made the controversial decision to remove a documentary about the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel from its lineup, it sparked a huge backlash. Although they initially cited “legal issues” with the footage, they’ve reversed their decision.
FOX NEWS reports:
The film, “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” by Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich, details the account of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, who rescued his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren on October 7.
TIFF said the documentary was removed “because general requirements for inclusion in the festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met, including legal clearance of all footage,” the Associated Press (AP) reported.
According to the filmmakers, the block was actually about “censorship.”
“We are shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film,” the filmmakers said in a statement, according to the AP. “Ultimately, film is an art form that stimulates debate from every perspective that can both entertain us and make us uncomfortable.”
Cameron Bailey, the CEO of TIFF, disagreed with the censorship allegations.
“My intention was to screen The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, which is why I extended the invitation for the film to participate in this year’s festival,” Bailey said in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”
On Friday, in a dramatic U-turn, TIFF said it will now show the documentary while issuing a groveling apology for yanking it.
“We are pleased to share that The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue will be an official TIFF selection at the festival this year, where we believe it will contribute to the vital conversations that film is meant to inspire,” the joint statement from TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and filmmaker Barry Avrich read. “In this case, TIFF’s communication around its requirements did not clearly articulate the concerns and roadblocks that arose and for that, we are sorry.”
“Both TIFF and the filmmakers have heard the pain and frustration expressed by the public and we want to address this together,” the statement continued. “We look forward to announcing more details including the World Premiere date on August 20th.”
Please see the following statement from TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey regarding The Road Between Us. pic.twitter.com/Qg9D7p3KEZ
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 13, 2025
I have learned that TIFF has reversed its decision and will screen ‘The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue’.
This is the right call. But this never should have happened – and it shouldn’t have taken a public outcry to reverse this mistake.
TIFF owes Barry Avrich a public… pic.twitter.com/dIBd09OW8Z
— Brad Bradford✌️ (@BradMBradford) August 14, 2025
