Anger after Toronto film festival pulls invite for October 7 documentary, citing legal concerns, other 'known risks'

Calgary Herald

5 days ago

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'The topic of creators' rights is something I work with regularly,' said Talia Harris Ram, a producer on the film, per the Times. 'There's no legal problem with showing these clips, which were already streamed live on October 7. From an intellectual property standpoint, they are clearly in the public domain.'
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Canada's Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said in its own statement: 'It is unconscionable that TIFF is allowing a small mob of extremists — who use intimidation and threats of violence — to dictate what films Canadians can see at the festival.' It added: 'This shameful decision sends an unmistakable message: Toronto's Jewish community, which has long played an integral role at TIFF, is no longer safe or welcome.'
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In an email sent to tens of thousands of Canadian Jewish community members and allies on Wednesday, the CIJA called on supporters to contact TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and urge him to reverse the decision and include The Road Between Us in the festival program. 'It is a stain on the festival's reputation and a blow to the values Canadians hold dear,' the email said.
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The group Canadian Women Against Antisemitism has also released a statement on social media, calling on supporters to demand that TIFF reverse its decision, and to 'tell Ontario and Canada: No more funding for cultural capitulation.' (The provincial and federal government are both TIFF sponsors.)
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BREAKING: The Toronto International Film Festival has pulled an October 7 documentary over alleged 'Hamas copyright' claims.
TIFF removed The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, which tells the story of Noam Tibon, who saved his two granddaughters while surrounded by Hamas… pic.twitter.com/Uk2SUKBR2h
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 13, 2025
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TIFF released the following statement: 'The invitation for the Canadian documentary film The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue was withdrawn by TIFF because general requirements for inclusion in the Festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met,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.
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'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.
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'As per our terms and conditions for participation in the Festival, TIFF may disqualify from participation in the Festival any Film that TIFF determines in its sole and absolute discretion would not be in TIFF's best interest to include in the Festival.'
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Last year the film Russians at War was denounced as Russian propaganda by Ukrainian groups, then-Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and others. TIFF defended its inclusion in the festival, but then cancelled screenings and ultimately gave the film a limited release only after the festival ended.