TIFF and filmmaker Barry Avrich reach resolution to screen Oct. 7 doc amid outcry
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Toronto Sun
4 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
KINSELLA: Anti-Israel hatred from artsy types a troublesome trend
A man walks on a red carpet displaying a sign for the Toronto International Film Festival at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Photo by Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Have our cultural icons lost their collective minds? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Across the cultural landscape — music, film, books — it certainly seems that way. Musicians, filmmakers, authors have apparently persuaded themselves that they alone can solve the Middle Eastern crisis from their distant perches in Canada or the U.S. or Europe. Despite all evidence to the contrary, most politicians generally know they lack the superpowers to single-handedly end wars like the one raging between Israel and Hamas. But some self-important culture types clearly think they do. Take TIFF for example (please). In the past few days, as the entire world knows by now, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and his Toronto International Film Festival adamantly refused to screen a documentary based in Israel by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich — after having previously promising that they would. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Why? Well, many suspected latent antisemitism played a role with unseen forces at TIFF. This writer wondered if Hamas' banker — Qatar — had put pressure on TIFF, with whom it has quietly partnered since 2019. TIFF's stated reason? Avrich and his fellow producers had failed to secure permission from Hamas — to show some Hamas footage in the documentary! (We are not making this up, as much as we wish that we were.) It was absurd and insane: Bailey and TIFF wanted a terror group's approval first. After the scandal became front-page news around the world — good job, Navigator! — TIFF hastily called emergency board meetings to find a way to put out a raging PR fire. Late Thursday, the film festival did a whiplash-inducing reversal and invited Avrich back. But the damage had been done to the reputation of a major Canadian cultural icon. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. More damaging revelations are on TIFF's horizon, because its disdain for the Jewish state remains: Avrich's film isn't the only one that has been maligned by TIFF for being fair towards Jews and Israel. Other prominent Jewish film makers have also been treated shabbily by Bailey and TIFF. (Stay tuned for details.) Elsewhere, further examples of anti-Israel hatred abound. For instance, if you happened to be walking past the Park Hyatt Hotel last November — as this writer did — you would have seen protesters screaming about Israeli 'genocide,' and condemning the Giller Prize gala, that night taking place inside. The protesters weren't so much the issue — as addled as they may be, they have a constitutional right to protest. The issue, instead, are the many writers who received Giller's prestigious awards. The ones who swanned around inside past Giller galas, snarfing canapés. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Michael Onjdaatje, Madeleine Thein, Sarah Bernstein, Suzette Mayr, Omar El Akkad, Sean Michaels, Lynn Coady, and Johanna Skibsrud were all past winners of the prestigious Giller Prize – and all signed a letter in the Toronto Star condemning the Giller's then-sponsor, Scotiabank, for having supposed links to Israel. That, too, is free speech. But how many of those writers who received generous cash prizes from the Giller jury — in some cases, as much as $100,000 — actually gave back what they had received? None. Not one. None of these literary heavyweights, it seems, practice what they preach. Meanwhile, the Giller is now on life-support, and is desperately seeking new sponsors to replace what they've lost. If the Giller slips under the waves, it will be a national tragedy — and it will be entirely the fault of the pro-Palestine or pro-Hamas (take your pick) fringe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the music scene, it's the same sad story. Too many — from Bob Vyllan advocating death for Jews, to Pink Floyd's Roger Waters shrugging about Oct. 7 — have embraced hatred. Instead of producing music that brings people together, they have chosen to drive people apart. Read More In some parts of the publishing industry, at the smaller houses, similar stories run rampant: those who submit manuscripts that advocate for a 'free Palestine' have a much easier time getting published. Those with positive things to say about Israel? Not so much. Sadly, expressing hatred for Israel has become pretty trendy since the war commenced. And few as obsessed with being trendy as our cultural elite. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays Canada Toronto Blue Jays
14 hours ago
Documentary about Oct. 7 Hamas attack to screen at TIFF after resolution with director
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue was initially pulled over legal clearance of footage, security issues The Toronto International Film Festival has reached a resolution with director Barry Avrich that will allow his documentary about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to be screened at the festival after it was initially pulled over the legal clearance of footage and security issues. Photo: Reuters / Mark Blinch Posted: August 15, 2025 10:59 AM The Toronto International Film Festival says a documentary about the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, is now an official selection and will screen at the festival after it was initially disinvited. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and filmmaker Barry Avrich say they have reached a resolution after hearing pain and frustration from the public. In a joint statement, the festival and the director say they have ironed out important safety, legal and programming concerns around the film, titled The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue . The documentary follows retired IDF general Noam Tibon's mission to rescue his family during the Hamas attacks, during which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken, according to Israeli tallies. Earlier this week, festival organizers said (new window) they pulled the documentary because it didn't meet certain requirements around security concerns and legal clearance of all footage. The decision sparked an international outcry, including from some Jewish groups and politicians. The filmmakers also accused the festival of censorship. TIFF said on Wednesday that it was working with the documentary team to find a way to screen the film. The statement said that TIFF has apologized for not clearly articulating its concerns. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14. Trump slapped Canada with higher tariffs Aug. 1 while giving Mexico more time 9 hours ago Trade Agreements Union members will strike around 1 a.m. ET on Saturday if deal isn't reached 11 hours ago Trade Unionism Starsailor is the most powerful student-built rocket engine to be launched, says Transport Canada National average sale price of a home sold in July was $672,784 Creature comforts persist, but cracks emerge in Russia's wartime economy 12 hours ago Armed Conflicts
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
TIFF and filmmaker Barry Avrich reach resolution to screen Oct. 7 doc
The Toronto International Film Festival has released a statement regarding why the documentary was pulled from the lineup. TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival says a documentary about the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 is now an official selection and will screen at the festival after initially being disinvited. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and filmmaker Barry Avrich say they have reached a resolution after hearing 'pain and frustration' from the public. In a joint statement, they say they have ironed out 'important safety, legal and programming concerns' around the film, titled 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.' Earlier this week, festival organizers said they pulled the documentary because it didn't meet certain requirements around security concerns and 'legal clearance of all footage.' The decision sparked an international outcry, including from some Jewish groups and politicians. The filmmakers also accused the festival of censorship. TIFF backtracked on Wednesday, saying it would find a way to work with the documentary team to find a way to screen the film. Bailey and Avrich's statement says TIFF apologizes for not clearly articulating its concerns. The documentary follows retired Israeli general Noam Tibon's mission to rescue his family during the Hamas attacks, during which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025
