Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey is denying claims of censorship after the fest pulled Barry Avrich’s Oct. 7 documentary “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” from its lineup.
The film follows grandfather and retired Israeli general Noam Tibon as he rescues his family from Hamas terrorists invading their home during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre.
News that the film would no longer screen at TIFF was revealed in a Tuesday story from Deadline, with the festival providing a statement to the outlet indicating the film was “withdrawn by TIFF because general requirements for inclusion in the festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met,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 purpose of the requested conditions was to protect TIFF from legal implications and to allow TIFF to manage and mitigate anticipated and known risks around the screening of a film about highly sensitive subject matter, including potential threat of significant disruption.”
In response, “The Road Between Us” filmmaking team slammed the festival’s decision in a statement to Variety: “We are shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film. Ultimately, film is an art form that stimulates debate from every perspective that can both entertain us and make us uncomfortable. A film festival lays out the feast and the audience decides what they will or won’t see. We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers. We remain defiant, we will release the film, and we invite audiences, broadcasters, and streamers to make up their own mind, once they have seen it.”
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On Wednesday afternoon, Bailey directly refuted the censorship claims, describing them as “unequivocally false.”
In a statement to Variety, he said that “this situation calls for compassion and sensitivity, and I recognize the concerns it has raised among members of the Jewish community and beyond. ”
Bailey went on to apologize for “any pain this situation may have caused,” adding, “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. 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. ”
He elaborated on the reason for pulling the film and indicated a possible path forward for the project at TIFF, continuing, “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.”
Bailey concluded the statement by asking for “patience and understanding as we navigate this complex landscape,” adding, “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.”
