“Unequivocally false”: TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey responds to rumors of ‘The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue’ being rejected

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) CEO Cameron Bailey has denied rumors of censorship after Barry Avrich’s documentary, "The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue," was initially pulled from the festival lineup for October 7 but later reconsidered for screening.

According to a report, Cameron Bailey released a statement on Instagram on August 13, 2025, to address the reports regarding the film's release. He apologised for the pain the situation might have caused anyone. He said that he intended to screen the film, which is why he allowed it to participate in the festival. He further said:

“I want to be clear: claims that the film was rejected due to censorship are unequivocally false. 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. I have asked our legal team to work with the filmmaker on considering all options available.”

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TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey apologizes for the removal of Barry Avrich’s documentary

Writing further in his apology letter, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey focused on the impact of the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, events, when Hamas and several other Palestinian terrorists launched an attack on Israel. He wrote in his letter -

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

Cameron Bailey concluded by adding that he asks for the public’s “patience and understanding” and thanked them for their continued support.

The documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue tells the story of retired Israeli Defense Forces General Noam Tibon, who heroically rescues his family during the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

A report in CBC suggested that Tibon’s story had been reported before in the media. His son, Amir Tibon, a journalist, recounted his experiences from the events in his book.

Deadline reported that TIFF removed The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue from its shelf as the film failed to meet some requirements, which included the "legal clearance of all footage."

The festival said in a statement to The Associated Press and Deadline:

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“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.”

Their move drew condemnation primarily from Jewish communities and related organizations. Among those who condemned the decision were - The Creative Community for Peace, a group that educates about antisemitism; The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, whose CEO Noah Shack said that the removal sends a message that the Jewish community in Toronto is no longer safe or welcomed at TIFF; Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa'ar, who called the decision “vicious and sickening.”

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