The Toronto International Film Festival says it will screen Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich’s “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” one day after it withdrew the documentary because it didn’t meet the festival’s requirements, including “legal clearance of all footage.”
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.
TIFF chief executive officer Cameron Bailey denied allegations that its previous decision to disinvite the film was a case of censorship, adding the festival would work with Avrich to find a way to screen the film.
“We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy important safety, legal, and programming concerns,” Bailey said in a statement Wednesday night.
In an earlier statement, TIFF said that when it invited the film to this year’s festival, it made several requirements of the filmmakers that were meant to serve as legal protection and to manage “anticipated and known risks,” including the potential for “significant disruption.”
But the documentary’s team said in a statement they were “shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming.”
“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,” Bailey said.
“Both TIFF and the filmmakers have always been committed to presenting diverse perspectives and a belief in the power of storytelling to spark and encourage dialogue and understanding.”
Reports about the film being disinvited stirred a strong outcry from members of the Jewish community.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said an apology was not enough.
“We need ‘The Road Between Us’ reinstated,” the organization said on social media. “The festival’s decision not only capitulates to extremists but goes against Canadian values.”
Ontario’s Culture Minister Stan Cho said in a statement posted online that he reached out to TIFF to better understand their decision, and was “troubled” that it didn’t want to discuss the matter beyond sharing a statement.
Toronto city councillors James Pasternak and Brad Bradford issued a joint statement urging TIFF to reverse its “misguided decision,” with Pasternak adding that an investigation should be launched if the festival doesn’t comply.
The Montreal-born Avrich has had a decades-long career as a documentary filmmaker, often focusing on high-profile personalities, including 2023’s “Oscar Peterson: Black + White,” which won a Canadian Screen Award for best documentary. Several of his films have premièred at TIFF, including 2019’s “David Foster: Off the Record,” offering an intimate look at the Canadian music producer.
Last year, the festival faced ongoing protests and security concerns over another documentary, “Russians at War,” that ultimately led to cancelled screenings before it was quietly shown toward the end of the festival.
The 50th Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4–14.
