Barry Avrich’s documentary on Oct. 7 attacks pulled by TIFF, says filmmaking team

By Canadian Press on August 13, 2025.

The team behind Barry Avrich’s “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” says the Toronto International Film Festival has pulled the documentary from its lineup, accusing the event of censoring its own programming.

The Canadian director’s film follows retired Israeli general Noam Tibon’s mission to rescue his family during the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.

The documentary’s team said in a statement that they’re “shocked and saddened” TIFF has “defied its mission” by refusing the movie.

TIFF did not respond to request for comment.

A spokesperson for Avrich did not immediately share the reason given for the documentary being disinvited from the festival.

But they said films should encourage debate “from every perspective” and that the festival should let the audience decide what they will or won’t see.

The film’s team says it will still release the film and they invite “audiences, broadcasters, and streamers to make up their own mind, once they have seen it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2025.

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press