Latest news with #Avrich
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
TIFF reverses course, announces it will now screen controversial October 7 film
After two days of intense controversy, the Toronto International Film Festival has not only reversed its decision to disinvite an October 7 documentary, but has made it an official festival selection. Article content Earlier this week, the festival outraged the filmmakers and Jewish groups when it rescinded an invitation for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue to screen at this year's festival, which kicks off Sept. 4. Article content Article content Article content Please see the following statement from TIFF and the Filmmaker regarding The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue. — TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 15, 2025 Article content Article content 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. Article content Article content 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.' Article content The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement Thursday that TIFF 'ultimately made the right call.' Article content '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.'
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
TIFF reverses course, announces it will now screen controversial October 7 film
After two days of intense controversy, the Toronto International Film Festival has not only reversed its decision to disinvite an October 7 documentary, but has made it an official festival selection. Article content Earlier this week, the festival outraged the filmmakers and Jewish groups when it rescinded an invitation for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue to screen at this year's festival, which kicks off Sept. 4. Article content Article content Article content '(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. Article content Please see the following statement from TIFF and the Filmmaker regarding The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue. — TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 15, 2025 Article content Article content 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. Article content Article content 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.' Article content The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement Thursday that TIFF 'ultimately made the right call.' Article content '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.'
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
TIFF reverses course, announces it will now screen controversial October 7 film
After two days of intense controversy, the Toronto International Film Festival has not only reversed its decision to disinvite an October 7 documentary, but has made it an official festival selection. Article content 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. Article content Article content Article content '(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. Article content Please see the following statement from TIFF and the Filmmaker regarding The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue. — TIFF (@TIFF_NET) August 15, 2025 Article content Article content 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. Article content Article content 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.' Article content The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement Thursday that TIFF 'ultimately made the right call.' Article content '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.'
International Business Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Documentary Film on Oct. 7 Hamas Attack Pulled Toronto Film Festival Because Terrorist Group Didn't Give Footage Permission
A new documentary on the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack against Israel has been pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival after organizers claimed the filmmakers must obtain permission from the terrorist group to use its graphic massacre footage. Festival organizers say the film, titled "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue," failed to meet specific criteria to be shown at the high-profile September event — known for drawing major Hollywood names — including not obtaining the required "legal clearance" to use Hamas' livestream footage depicting the rape, murder, and abduction of Jews. Shocked by the move, several filmmakers, including prominent Canadian director Barry Avrich, slammed the decision to pull the film. No Show for No Reason Revelers at the Nova music festival seen running to save their lives as Hamas militants launched an attack on them on October 7, 2023 X He told Deadline that TIFF had "defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film." Indeed, TIFF's mission mentions on its website, "we will defend artistic excellence and artistic freedom." Avrich chose not to provide any more comments. "The Road Between Us" follows the story of retired Israel Defense Forces General Noam Tibon, who rushed to rescue his family and others during Hamas' deadly assault, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 kidnapped. The film features widely circulated videos recorded by the terrorists showing the murders of Israelis at the Nova music festival and in surrounding communities. Although TIFF claimed the filmmakers needed Hamas' approval to use the footage, the documentary's line producer, Talia Harris Ram, told the Times of Israel that such rationale was ridiculous. "The topic of creators' rights is something I work with regularly," she said. "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." Sources told Deadline that the festival removed the documentary partly out of fear that large anti-Israel protests might erupt in Toronto's busy downtown area. Avoiding Controversy Toronto International Film Festival X The final part of TIFF's statement hints at this reasoning, mentioning the "potential threat of significant disruption" tied to a documentary on a "highly sensitive subject." According to the filmmakers of "The Road Between Us," they made efforts to fulfill TIFF's requirements. For example, industry reports noted that the festival requested a title change from "Out of Nowhere" to "The Road Between Us," and the filmmakers agreed. However, their invitation was still withdrawn on Monday. Sources told The New York Post that, following the backlash over the film's exclusion, TIFF's board of directors scheduled a meeting to address the controversy. The "Road Between Us" filmmakers stressed that the documentary simply tells one man's story — a man who had also been featured on "60 Minutes." "We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers," they said in their statement. "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." According to Deadline, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey requested that the documentary's producers withdraw the film voluntarily, but they declined. Tibon, the focus of the documentary, condemned its cancellation.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Toronto Film Festival outrageously cuts October 7 documentary because Hamas didn't give footage permission: ‘Absurd and bizarre'
A new documentary about the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas has been booted from the Toronto International Film Festival — because organizers insist the filmmakers need the rights from the terrorist group to use their horrific footage of the massacre. The festival claims the movie, called 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,' did not meet certain requirements to screen at the prestigious September event, widely attended by Hollywood stars and bigwigs, including not securing so-called 'legal clearance' to use Hamas' live-streamed video of the rape, murder and kidnapping of Jews. The stunned filmmakers, including Canadian director Barry Avrich, slammed the decision, telling Deadline that TIFF has 'defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film.' Avrich declined to comment further. 'The Road Between Us' tells the story of retired Israel Defense Forces General Noam Tibon, who set out to save his family and others during Hamas' deadly attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. It includes widely seen videos taken by the terrorists of their murders of Israelis at the Nova music festival and in nearby communities. While TIFF alleges they required permission from Hamas to use the footage, the documentary's line producer, Talia Harris Ram, told the Times of Israel that their rationale was ridiculous. 'The topic of creators' rights is something I work with regularly,' she said. '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.' The Post has also learned the film had insurance that protected both its creators and the festival from potential lawsuits. Some sources told Deadline the festival pulled the doc out of concern that potential anti-Israel protests would form in crowded downtown Toronto. The bottom of TIFF's statement suggests that's the case, citing the 'potential threat of significant disruption' due to a documentary concerning 'highly sensitive subject matter.' TIFF did not respond to The Post's request for further comment. The 'Road Between Us' filmmakers said they tried to meet TIFF's demands. For instance, the trade reported the festival asked the filmmakers to change the movie's title from 'Out of Nowhere' to 'The Road Between Us.' They complied with the request. But their invitation was nonetheless snatched back on Monday. Sources told The Post that, after backlash resulting from the film's removal, the TIFF board of directors planned a meeting to discuss the fallout. The 'Road Between Us' team insisted they were only depicting a man's story — a man who was also profiled on '60 Minutes.' 'We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers,' they said in their statement. '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.' Deadline reported that the documentary's producers were asked by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey to voluntarily withdraw, but they refused. Tibon, the doc's subject, decried the cancellation. 'The festival management's claim that the film cannot be screened because 'permissions to use' the footage of the Nukhba terrorists were not obtained is absurd and bizarre, and constitutes further harm to the victims,' he told the Times of Israel. 'My message to the festival management: The truth cannot be erased. The atrocities committed by Hamas cannot be erased or denied.' Originally published as Toronto Film Festival outrageously cuts October 7 documentary because Hamas didn't give footage permission: 'Absurd and bizarre'
