Toronto film festival's embarrassing groveling after refusing to show Oct. 7 massacre movie for fear of upsetting Hamas
The festival was set to show 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue', directed by Barry Avrich, which follows the story of retired IDF general Noam Tibon during and after the attack that saw around 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage.
But, on Wednesday TIFF announced it was pulling the film because Hamas did not give organizers permission to use bodycam footage shot by terrorists, according to Israeli media.
In response, Israel 's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, slammed the organizers, and likened their decision to cancel the movie due to a lack of Hamas 'clearance' to asking for Adolf Hitler's approval for Auschwitz footage, reported i24NEWS.
After controversy unfolded about the announcement, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey issued an apology stating that 'claims that the film was rejected due to censorship are unequivocally false.'
The Canadian film critic added he was trying to find a way to show the film after all and that it was 'never my intention to offend or alienate anyone...'
'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.
'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,' he added.
The festival had originally approved the film, which follows Tibon on his mission to save his son, his wife and two daughters who were attacked by Hamas-led terrorists at their home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7.
The documentary uses bodycam footage filmed by the terrorists themselves during the massacre, which was the single deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.
The film was pulled by TIFF due to the prospect of disruptive anti-Israel protests at the festival, which will run from September 4-14, as well as concerns about copyright, Deadline reported.
'The invitation for the Canadian documentary film "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue" was withdrawn by TIFF because general requirements for inclusion in the festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met,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,' the organizers said in a statement.
'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.
'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.'
Tibon, an ex-IDF general and a staunch critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, drove from his Tel Aviv home to southern Israel on the morning of October 7 to help the communities attacked on the border.
Since that day, he has been vocal about his opposition to the Israeli government.
The filmmaking team behind the documentary told Deadline: '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.'
Reacting to the film's cancellation, the documentary's subject Tibon said it was 'absurd and outrageous.'
The Toronto festival surrendered to pressure and threats, choosing to silence and erase October 7.
'Barry Avrich's documentary tells a human, not political, story, documenting the grim reality of Israel's darkest day. The claim that it cannot be screened because it lacks "usage rights" for Hamas footage from that day is absurd and outrageous - and an insult to the victims.
'Freedom of expression is the courage to present and hear challenging content, even if it is uncomfortable for some audiences.'
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