TIFF reverses course, announces it will now screen controversial October 7 film
Earlier this week, the festival outraged the filmmakers and Jewish groups when it rescinded an invitation for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue to screen at this year's festival, which kicks off Sept. 4.
The festival backtracked late Thursday evening, issuing a joint statement from Cameron Bailey, TIFF's CEO and Barry Avrich, the filmmaker.
'(The film) will be an official TIFF selection at the festival this year, where we believe it will contribute to the vital conversations that film is meant to inspire,' the festival said.
The film, produced by Melbar Entertainment Group and directed by Avrich, a Canadian, tells the story of retired Israel Defence Forces Gen. Noam Tibon, who raced from Tel Aviv to Kibbutz Nahal Oz near Gaza on October 7 to save his son Amir's family.
TIFF had originally said the filmmakers did not secure 'legal clearance of all footage,' which was among the conditions the festival requested to mitigate 'known risks around the screening of a film about highly sensitive subject matter, including potential threat of significant disruption.'
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement Thursday that TIFF 'ultimately made the right call.'
'Tens of thousands of Canadians — including civic leaders, elected officials, artists and people from all backgrounds—spoke out against TIFF's shameful decision to cave to extremist pressure. Their voices were heard,' CIJA said. 'Let's make it the most-watched film at TIFF and, eventually, on screens across the country. Everyone needs to see the real cost of unchecked extremism—and the bravery of those who stand in defence of human life and our shared values.'
The initial decision drew condemnation from a number of figures, including Idit Shamir, Israel's consul general for Toronto and western Canada, who called the film festival's Wednesday apology — in which it denied that 'censorship' had played a role in the decision — 'PR perfume on institutional moral rot.'
'They called it important. Then they withdrew it for phantom legal reasons forcing October 7th survivors to seek Hamas permission for massacre footage. Zero transparency on core outrage,' Shamir said.
Stan Cho, Ontario's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, called the film 'a crucial medium of dialogue.'
'I believe freedom of expression is integral to the arts,' Cho said.
On Thursday evening, Cho called TIFF's decision 'excellent news.'
'I am thrilled that Barry Avrich's important work will be showcased at this year's Toronto International Film Festival,' Cho wrote on X.
— With additional reporting by Chris Knight
'PR perfume on institutional moral rot': Toronto film festival's apology to makers of October 7 doc rings hollow to some
Toronto film festival is 'working with the filmmaker' to get pulled Oct. 7 documentary screened, executive says
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