Toronto film festival backtracks on 7 October documentary refusal
After widespread anger at TIFF's apparent cancellation of the screening of The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, festival CEO confirms efforts to ensure film is included
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) appears to have backtracked on a decision to cancel a screening of a documentary about the 7 October attacks, with the festival CEO saying that he “remain[s] committed to working with the filmmaker to meet TIFF’s screening requirements to allow the film to be screened at this year’s festival.”
The decision follows widespread anger at reports that the festival had withdrawn its invitation to screen The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a Canadian documentary telling the story of retired Israel Defence Forces General Noam Tibon’s perilous 7 October mission to rescue his family from Hamas terrorists.
The documentary makers had strongly condemned the festival’s decision, saying they were “shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming… We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers. We remain defiant, we will release the film, and we invite audiences… to make up their own mind.”
A TIFF spokesperson told Deadline the decision was taken 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.” This led people to question whether the film festival was somehow asking the documentary creators to ask Hamas for permission to use some of the footage filmed by its terrorists on 7 October as they carried out their mass slaughter.
Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, tweeted: “Toronto International Film Festival just cancelled the screening of a film about the October 7 massacre because there was no “legal clearance” from Hamas for their GoPro massacre videos. This festival would have asked Hitler or Goebbels for copyright on Auschwitz footage. Of course, the festival is about to screen five Palestinian films. This vicious and sickening decision must be cancelled immediately!”
Israel’s Consul General to Toronto, Idit Shamir, characterised TIFF’s decision as “absolutely depraved”, condemning the festival’s “grotesque logic: October 7th survivors need copyright clearance from Hamas butchers to screen footage of their own massacre. Apparently victims must now file paperwork with their executioners for film rights. This is psychological warfare against Jewish trauma disguised as administrative protocol.”
In a letter published late on Wednesday, however, Cameron Bailey, CEO of the festival, said: “I would like to express my sincere apologies for any pain this situation may have caused. It was never my intention to offend or alienate anyone. At TIFF, we believe in the transformative power of film to foster understanding and dialogue, especially during challenging times.”
He went on to say: “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.
“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. While we are not a political organization, TIFF will always strive to present our programming in a safe, inclusive environment.”