A documentary about the Oct. 7 attack, "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue", has been excluded from the Toronto International Film Festival's fall lineup, according to a statement from a TIFF spokesperson to Deadline on Tuesday.
The film, directed by Barry Avrich, chronicles the courageous actions of retired Israeli general Noam Tibon, who rescued his family and others during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The festival cited unmet general requirements, including legal clearance of footage, as the reason for withdrawing the invitation. TIFF also noted concerns about potential disruptions due to the sensitive subject matter.
The documentary focuses on Tibon's mission to save his family, including his two granddaughters, who were surrounded by Hamas terrorists. It also highlights his efforts to rescue survivors of a music festival massacre and assist wounded Israeli soldiers. The story first gained attention through a 60 Minutes segment in October 2023. TIFF's decision to pull the film stems from its terms, which allow disqualification of any film deemed not in the festival's best interest, as stated by a TIFF spokesperson to Deadline: "TIFF may disqualify from participation in the Festival any Film that TIFF determines in its sole and absolute discretion would not be in TIFF's best interest to include in the Festival."
The filmmaking team expressed dismay to Deadline, stating: "We are shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film. Ultimately, film is an art form that stimulates debate from every perspective that can both entertain us and make us uncomfortable. A film festival lays out the feast and the audience decides what they will or won't see. We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers. 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."
Sources informed Deadline that TIFF's decision was influenced by fears of disruptive protests during the festival, running September 4-14. A similar issue arose last year with the antiwar documentary Russians at War, which faced backlash from Ukrainian diplomats and activists, prompting TIFF to halt screenings temporarily before showing it post-festival with heightened security. In the case of "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue", filmmakers believed the documentary would be announced in TIFF's lineup on August 6, but festival insiders clarified it had not met requirements.
TIFF initially invited the film on July 14, contingent on specific conditions. The festival requested a title change from "Out of Nowhere: The Ultimate Rescue", which the filmmakers accepted. TIFF also asked for identification of the source of graphic footage livestreamed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which was publicly available. The festival clarified to Deadline that it did not request editorial changes but sought confirmation of legal clearance. The filmmakers provided an errors and omissions insurance letter naming TIFF as insured and were asked to submit a legal reporting letter and additional security measures.
On August 6, TIFF's lawyer requested evidence of indemnification, a legal letter, and an insurance certificate, with a third screening planned for August 8 to verify compliance. On Monday, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey urged the producers to withdraw the film, a request they refused, according to sources speaking to Deadline.
