TIFF pulls documentary on 2023 Hamas attack from festival lineup, citing footage rights issue

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Toronto International Film Festival has pulled from its lineup a documentary on the Hamas 2023 attack into Israel over what the festival says was a footage rights issue.

Organizers for the festival acknowledged on Tuesday that they withdrew Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich’s “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” after initially offering the film a spot in the upcoming edition of TIFF. 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.

Representatives for the festival said in a statement that the film’s invitation “was withdrawn by TIFF because general requirements for inclusion in the festival, and conditions that were requested when the film was initially invited, were not met, including legal clearance of all footage.”

“The purpose of the requested conditions was to protect TIFF from legal implications and to allow TIFF to manage and mitigate anticipated and known risks around the screening of a film about highly sensitive subject matter, including potential threat of significant disruption,” the festival said.

The filmmakers, though, say the festival is engaging in “censorship” by denying the film a place in the festival.

“We are shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film,” the filmmaking team said in a statement. “Ultimately, film is an art form that stimulates debate from every perspective that can both entertain us and make us uncomfortable.”

Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was related to the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants’ own livestreaming of the attack.

The filmmakers pledged to release the film regardless: “We invite audiences, broadcasters and streamers to make up their own mind, once they have seen it.”

Later Wednesday, Cameron Bailey, TIFF chief executive, apologized “for any pain this situation may have caused” and said he was still hoping to have the film at the festival.

“I remain committed to working with the filmmaker to meet TIFF’s screening requirements to allow the film to be screened at this year’s festival,” said Bailey. “I have asked our legal team to work with the filmmaker on considering all options available.”

Bailey strongly rejected allegations of censorship, explaining instead said the situation requires compassion and sympathy.

“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,” said Bailey. “While we are not a political organization, TIFF will always strive to present our programing in a safe, inclusive environment.”

The Toronto festival has sometimes prompted headlines over its selections. Last year, it canceled screenings of “Russians at War,” a documentary about Russian soldiers in the war with Ukraine. Protesters in Toronto called the film Russian propaganda.

After the festival paused screenings due to “significant threats,” “Russians at War” was quietly screened toward the end of the festival.

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4–14.