Overview

• TIFF withdrew its invitation for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue after determining the filmmakers failed to secure verifiable legal clearance for footage, including material filmed by Hamas operatives.
• Chief executive Cameron Bailey first asked the producers to withdraw the documentary and then officially rescinded the invitation over concerns about legal liability and disruptive protests.
• Director Barry Avrich and subject Noam Tibon condemned the move as censorship and announced plans to release the film independently outside the festival.
• Pro-Israel advocacy groups such as the Creative Community for Peace and the Canadian Centre for Jewish and Israeli Affairs criticized TIFF’s decision and urged the festival to reverse its course.
• Local community organizers in Toronto have arranged parallel public screenings of the documentary to coincide with the festival dates.