Latest news with #CameronBailey
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
After uproar, documentary on Hamas 2023 attack will screen at Toronto Film Festival
NEW YORK: The Toronto International Film Festival will screen a documentary on the 2023 Hamas attack, after all, following an uproar over the film's disinvitation from the upcoming festival. Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.' The festival said the decision was based in part on legal clearance for footage used in the documentary. Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants' own livestreaming of the attack. On Thursday evening, TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey and 'The Road Between Us' filmmaker Barry Avrich issued a joint statement announcing the film's selection. 'Both TIFF and the filmmakers have heard the pain and frustration expressed by the public and we want to address this together,' said Bailey and Avrich. 'We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy important safety, legal, and programming concerns.' 'In this case, TIFF's communication around its requirements did not clearly articulate the concerns and roadblocks that arose and for that, we are sorry,' they continued. The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, whose efforts to save his family and others during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack was profiled in a '60 Minutes' segment. After being informed that the film wouldn't screen at the festival, the 'Road Between Us' filmmakers issued a statement claiming TIFF 'censored its own programming by refusing the film.' Bailey disputed that allegation, and pleaded that the situation demanded sensitivity. 'The events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing suffering in Gaza weigh heavily on us, underscoring the urgent need for compassion amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia,' Bailey said on Wednesday. The Toronto International Film Festival, North America's largest film festival, runs Sept. 4–14. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
After uproar, documentary on Hamas 2023 attack will screen at Toronto Film Festival
NEW YORK (AP) — The Toronto International Film Festival will screen a documentary on the 2023 Hamas attack, after all, following an uproar over the film's disinvitation from the upcoming festival. Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue." The festival said the decision was based in part on legal clearance for footage used in the documentary. Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants' own livestreaming of the attack. On Thursday evening, TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey and 'The Road Between Us' filmmaker Barry Avrich issued a joint statement announcing the film's selection. 'Both TIFF and the filmmakers have heard the pain and frustration expressed by the public and we want to address this together,' said Bailey and Avrich. 'We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy important safety, legal, and programming concerns.' 'In this case, TIFF's communication around its requirements did not clearly articulate the concerns and roadblocks that arose and for that, we are sorry,' they continued. The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, whose efforts to save his family and others during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack was profiled in a '60 Minutes' segment. After being informed that the film wouldn't screen at the festival, the 'Road Between Us' filmmakers issued a statement claiming TIFF 'censored its own programming by refusing the film.' 'The events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing suffering in Gaza weigh heavily on us, underscoring the urgent need for compassion amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia,' Bailey said on Wednesday.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. 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 Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
TIFF and filmmaker Barry Avrich reach resolution to screen Oct. 7 doc
The Toronto International Film Festival has released a statement regarding why the documentary was pulled from the lineup. TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival says a documentary about the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 is now an official selection and will screen at the festival after initially being disinvited. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey and filmmaker Barry Avrich say they have reached a resolution after hearing 'pain and frustration' from the public. In a joint statement, they say they have ironed out 'important safety, legal and programming concerns' around the film, titled 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.' Earlier this week, festival organizers said they pulled the documentary because it didn't meet certain requirements around security concerns and 'legal clearance of all footage.' The decision sparked an international outcry, including from some Jewish groups and politicians. The filmmakers also accused the festival of censorship. TIFF backtracked on Wednesday, saying it would find a way to work with the documentary team to find a way to screen the film. Bailey and Avrich's statement says TIFF apologizes for not clearly articulating its concerns. The documentary follows retired Israeli general Noam Tibon's mission to rescue his family during the Hamas attacks, during which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
After uproar, documentary on Hamas 2023 attack will screen at Toronto Film Festival
NEW YORK (AP) — The Toronto International Film Festival will screen a documentary on the 2023 Hamas attack, after all, following an uproar over the film's disinvitation from the upcoming festival. Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.' The festival said the decision was based in part on legal clearance for footage used in the documentary. Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants' own livestreaming of the attack. On Thursday evening, TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey and 'The Road Between Us' filmmaker Barry Avrich issued a joint statement announcing the film's selection. 'Both TIFF and the filmmakers have heard the pain and frustration expressed by the public and we want to address this together,' said Bailey and Avrich. 'We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy important safety, legal, and programming concerns.' 'In this case, TIFF's communication around its requirements did not clearly articulate the concerns and roadblocks that arose and for that, we are sorry,' they continued. The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, whose efforts to save his family and others during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack was profiled in a '60 Minutes' segment. After being informed that the film wouldn't screen at the festival, the 'Road Between Us' filmmakers issued a statement claiming TIFF 'censored its own programming by refusing the film.' Bailey disputed that allegation, and pleaded that the situation demanded sensitivity. 'The events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing suffering in Gaza weigh heavily on us, underscoring the urgent need for compassion amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia,' Bailey said on Wednesday.
