Why Toronto’s film festival reversed course on screening an Israeli Oct 7 attack documentary

This is not the first time the Toronto festival has faced programming disputes.

The Toronto International Film Festival will go ahead with screenings of the Israeli documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, reversing an earlier decision to remove it from its September lineup. Organizers had withdrawn the film earlier this week over concerns that the filmmakers lacked rights to use Hamas-filmed footage from the October 7 attacks, which the documentary incorporates. The move drew accusations of censorship from the filmmakers and sparked a strong public backlash, the New York Times reported.

Resolution reached, details undisclosed 

On Thursday evening, festival chief executive Cameron Bailey and Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich announced that they had found a solution to address “important safety, legal, and programming concerns” linked to the screening. While they did not specify the terms, Bailey apologized for not clearly explaining the reasons for the initial cancellation, saying the lack of transparency had contributed to the controversy.

Film’s content and legal concerns 

The documentary follows a retired Israeli general who rescued his family during the Hamas assault on his home, and includes video recorded by Hamas fighters during the attacks. Festival organizers had warned of potential legal complications from showing the material and hinted that the decision to pull the film was partly to avoid disruptions. Producer Talia Harris Ram disputed the legal reasoning, calling the rights-related claims “absurd” and “disconnected.”

Previous controversies at the festival 

This is not the first time the Toronto festival has faced programming disputes. Last year, it was criticized for planning to screen a documentary about Russian soldiers in Ukraine, which critics labelled pro-Kremlin propaganda. That film was ultimately pulled from the main festival but shown later as part of year-round programming. The renewed controversy over The Road Between Us underscores the delicate balance the festival faces in presenting politically charged films amid heightened global tensions.