Israel welcomes Toronto film festival’s reversal on screening Oct. 7 film

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Friday welcomed the decision by the Toronto International Film Festival to allow the screening of the film “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” about the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“Justice has prevailed,” Sa’ar declared in a post on X. “This correction comes after the festival’s miserable initial decision to prevent the screening of the film. The decision to allow the screening of the film is also a strong message to the deniers of the massacre and to antisemitic forces who are trying to erase the memory of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against Israeli and foreign citizens.”

Sa’ar added, “I thank all those who fought and worked for the screening of the film, including the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa, the Consulate in Toronto, the Jewish community in Canada, cultural figures and many others. We will continue to work for the truth and to highlight the horrors of the Oct. 7 massacre. We will not forget. We will not allow it to be forgotten.”

After removing the documentary from its lineup earlier in the week, the Toronto International Film Festival backtracked on Thursday following blowback over its initial decision and denied it had censored the film.

“I want to be clear: Claims that the film was rejected due to censorship are unequivocally false,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a post to X. “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.”

The documentary, directed by Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich, focuses on IDF Maj. Gen. (res.) Noam Tibon, who saved his family, including his two granddaughters, from the Hamas massacre.

The World Jewish Congress–North America said it “applauds” the Toronto International Film Festival for reversing its decision. “This outcome was made possible by the efforts of the WJC Canada Advisory Council, in coordination with Canada’s Jewish community, which has long played an integral role at TIFF, ensuring the voices of victims and survivors are heard globally,” it said.

“This is more than a scheduling change—it is a stand for truth against those who seek to erase it,” said David Koschitzky, chair of WJC–North America. “By initially giving procedural weight to a terrorist group’s material, TIFF sent a chilling message. This reversal proves that truth can prevail.”

Brent S. Belzberg, chair of the WJC Canada Advisory Council, added: “We are proud to have helped ensure this film will be shown. TIFF’s reversal signals that truth-telling about terrorism is not negotiable.”

“Tens of thousands of people across Canada and around the world joined together to achieve this important reversal by TIFF,” said Noah Shack, CEO of CIJA, the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada. “This demonstrates what we can achieve working together.”