TIFF Pulls Invite For October 7th Documentary ‘The Road Between Us'; Filmmakers Say Fest Has 'Censored Its Own Programming'
The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue tells the story about retired Israel Defense Forces General Noam Tibon, who embarked on a heroic mission to save his family, including his two granddaughters, who were surrounded by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, 2023. Tibon also rescued survivors of the music festival massacre and help ed wounded Israeli soldiers on his journey to save his family. His story was originally covered by 60 Minutes in October 2023.
More from Deadline
TIFF Documentary Lineup Revealed: Films On Canceled Paula Deen, Daring Aeronauts, 'Modern Whores' And More
Cillian Murphy On His Character's "Jangled State Of Anxiety" In TIFF-Bound 'Steve' & The Balance Of Telling Tough Stories That Entertain - Filmmaker Team Q&A
'Russians At War' Director & Producer Talk Backlash & Direct-To-Audience Release: "The Best Counter To The Protests & Hate Is For People To See The Film"
A TIFF spokesperson tells Deadline on Tuesday, 'The invitation for the Canadian documentary film The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue was withdrawn by TIFF because general requirements for inclusion in the festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met,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 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.''
The filmmaking team behind The Road Between Us tells 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.'
Sources tell us that TIFF pulled the movie due to potential risks of disruptive protests at this year's festival, which runs September 4-14. TIFF faced a similar situation last year with the antiwar documentary Russians at War, which stirred Ukrainian diplomats and activists to urge the fest to cancel screenings, claiming it was Russian propaganda. Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was also riled up over the docu. TIFF halted screenings on Russians at War, then showed the docu days following the festival with heavy security at showtimes.
In the case of The Road Between Us, its filmmakers were under the impression the documentary was being announced in TIFF's doc lineup on August 6, however, per fest insiders that wasn't the case because the movie hadn't met its requirements. The Road Between Us was invited to play at TIFF on July 14 under certain requirements.
What were those?
The festival suggested that the movie title be changed from its original title Out of Nowhere: The Ultimate Rescue. The filmmakers complied.
Filmmakers were told they had to make editorial changes specifically identifying horrific footage that was livestreamed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, footage that had already been seen publicly. The festival claims it requested that the filmmakers not make changes, rather identify the source of the footage and confirmation of legal clearance. The Road Between Us team were asked and provided an errors and omissions insurance letter that added TIFF as the insured. Filmmakers were also asked to provide a legal reporting letter confirming clearance of the footage, as well as added security. We're told by the festival that the event was going to provide additional security given any potential risk from the film.
On August 6, TIFF's lawyer informed the producers that they wanted to see evidence of the indemnification, legal letter and insurance certificate, and screen the film for a third time on August 8 to verify that TIFF's required changes were made. On Monday, TIFF boss Cameron Bailey called the producers of The Road Between Us and asked them to withdraw the film. We're told by all sources that the filmmakers refused.
Bailey officially uninvited The Road Between Us in an email to producers today.
The documentary is being distributed by Cineplex in Canada.
Best of Deadline
Everything We Know About Prime Video's 'Legally Blonde' Prequel Series 'Elle'
Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far
Everything We Know About 'The Love Hypothesis' Movie So Far
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Dirty Dishes in the Sink? He'll See You in Court.
As judges go, the Honorable Michael J. Abber's credentials are a little thin. He did not, for instance, attend law school. He has seen 'Legally Blonde,' but not 'Judge Judy.' And as a member of his high school mock trial team, he was mostly stuck playing witnesses. 'I was never trusted to be a lawyer,' he said. 'I was only trusted to theatrically declare that I had been done wrong.' Mr. Abber, 27, is a comedian in New York City who presides over 'Roommate Court,' a TikTok and Instagram series that began in May. Each episode mines humor from a real-life conflict in a city known for high rents, small apartments and big personalities. For that, Mr. Abber is more than qualified. He has lived with nine roommates across four apartments since moving to Brooklyn in 2021. His first stop was an overpriced sublet in the McKibbin lofts in East Williamsburg, a onetime hub for young artists that now houses a D.I.Y. gecko zoo. Most cases come in through a hotline he circulates on social media with a picture of himself posing like a seedy personal-injury lawyer. So far, he has adjudicated disagreements between roommates over the art on the walls, the food in the fridge, the vet bills for a shared pet and the ownership of a Tyler, the Creator vinyl. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
I asked my wife about sexual fantasies. Her response changed our marriage.
My wife and I have never really talked about what turns us on even though we've had a fairly decent relationship in the sex department. Recently, after watching the movie 'Babygirl,' I got up the courage to ask her if she had any particular fantasies. She said she did but didn't want to tell me because she was ashamed. Frankly, I couldn't imagine what that would be since I'm pretty relaxed about most things. But once she told me that her fantasy was having sex with a bunch of guys at the same time, I worried that maybe she's been faking her interest or excitement for all these years, and I find myself feeling a little more distant from her ever since.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
The first Friday night out in Trump's D.C.: Police, protest and parties
The sunlight dimmed along this stretch of U Street to the familiar soundtrack of a city ready for the weekend: rumbling buses taking home tired commuters, high heels clacking along sticky sidewalks and chattering crowds ready to order their first round.
