TORONTO – A controversial documentary about a retired Israeli general’s rescue mission on Oct. 7 has won the People’s Choice Award for best documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” directed by Barry Avrich, drew competing pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests outside its single screening this week.
The list of winners was emailed out on Sunday morning before they could be announced during a ceremony at the TIFF Lightbox.
The film chronicles retired Israeli general Noam Tibon’s effort to rescue his family during the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 abducted.
Last month, TIFF said it pulled the film from its lineup due to security concerns and rights issues, prompting criticism from politicians, Jewish organizations and entertainment industry figures.
The festival reinstated the film days later, and TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey promised clearer communication around programming decisions.
Reporters were told Bailey would not be available for interviews on Sunday.
Some pro-Palestinian demonstrators called the documentary “Israeli propaganda,” though they hadn’t seen it.
Meanwhile, the general People’s Choice Award — long considered a bellwether for the Oscars — went to “Hamnet,” Chloe Zhao’s Shakespeare origin story starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley.
“Frankenstein,” directed by Guillermo del Toro, was named first runner-up, while Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” was second runner-up for the coveted prize.
The People’s Choice Award for the favoured film in the Midnight Madness program went to Matt Johnson’s “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.”
The best Canadian feature award went to “Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband),” directed by Zacharias Kunuk.
“Blue Heron,” a film from Toronto’s Sophy Romvari, won the best Canadian discovery award, a jury prize that goes to an early-career filmmaker.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2025.
