\u201cAt no point did we ask the filmmakers to seek approval or clearance from Hamas, a terrorist organization,\u201d Bailey told the Globe and Mail newspaper this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is, of course, something that we wouldn\u2019t do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, speaks onstage during the TIFF Tribute Awards during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel on September 7, 2025. (Jemal Countess\/Getty Images\/AFP)<\/p>\n Before introducing the film on Wednesday, Bailey conceded TIFF mishandled the film\u2019s submission process.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to apologize, especially to the Jewish community, for mistakes I made in the lead up to this day,\u201d he told a packed 2,000-seat venue in downtown Toronto.<\/p>\n \u2018Flag of a family\u2019<\/p>\n The film recounts Tibon\u2019s journey from Tel Aviv to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz on the border with Gaza, where his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters were hiding in a safe room after Hamas fighters entered the community.<\/p>\n Avrich said he was drawn to the story as a father, and that it does not have a political message.<\/p>\n \u201cThis film is wrapped in the flag of a family,\u201d he told the premiere audience.<\/p>\n He also said he did not object to peaceful protests.<\/p>\n \u201cI ultimately wish anybody that\u2019s protesting this film watches it first. Then let\u2019s have a conversation,\u201d Avrich said on the red carpet. \u201cIn the world right now we need to hear stories of family and unity and that\u2019s what this movie is about.\u201d<\/p>\n \t (L-R) Noam Tibon and Barry Avrich of \u2018The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue\u2019 pose in the Getty Images Portrait Studio Presented by IMDb and IMDbPro during the Toronto International Film Festival at InterContinental Toronto Centre on September 8, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Gareth Cattermole \/ Getty Images via AFP)<\/p>\n Around 20 protesters showed up ahead of the screening of Barry Avrich\u2019s film at the Roy Thompson Hall Theatre, chanting \u201cAll the Zionists are racists.\u201d<\/p>\n Protesting outside the venue, Palestinian-Canadian Bassem Ramli told AFP he was not objecting to the contents of the film specifically, but opposed TIFF\u2019s decision to allow the former Israeli army general on its red carpet.<\/p>\n \u201cThis person does not deserve to be celebrated as a hero, let alone at this time,\u201d the 39-year-old said.<\/p>\n \u201cWould it be OK to have, say, a senior Russian general being right now celebrated as a hero? I don\u2019t think this is something that would be really accepted,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Waving an Israeli flag outside the theater, Jeffrey Raphael teared up when asked about the anger surrounding the film.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand there is perspective from Palestinians in the film festival, so why can\u2019t we hear other perspectives?\u201d the 55-year-old said.<\/p>\n \t A protestor is detained by police after jumping a barricade as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators rally on opposite sides of the street in front of the Roy Thompson Hall, where the documentary \u0093The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue\u0094 is showing, during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 10, 2025. (Cole Burston\/AFP)<\/p>\n An estimated 50 Toronto police officers were in attendance, and as arguments escalated between the two groups, the cops separated them to opposite sides of the street. Protests continued ahead of the sold-out screening.<\/p>\n During the post-premiere Q&A, when the moderator mentioned the Palestinian toll from the Israeli offensive, which unverified figures from the Hamas-health ministry that don\u2019t differentiate between civilians and combatants put at over 64,000, substantial numbers of the apparently pro-Israeli audience booed and jeered.<\/p>\n Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
If so, we have a request.\u00a0<\/p>\n Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.\u00a0<\/p>\n We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So today, we have an ask: show your appreciation for our work by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t
\t\t\t
\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a><\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.<\/p>\n Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.<\/p>\n So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing\u00a0exclusive content\u00a0available only to Times of Israel Community members.<\/p>\n Thank you, \t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AFP__20250907__2234207797__v3__HighRes__2025TorontoInternationalFilmFestivalTiffTrib-e1757556894116-.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AFP__20250909__2234406187__v1__HighRes__GettyImagesPortraitStudioPresentedByImdbAndI-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AFP__20250910__743U83R__v3__HighRes__CanadaEntertainmentFilmFestivalTiff-e1757556357391-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tIs The Times of Israel important to you?\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll give\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll give\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYou appreciate our journalism\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DH-new-headshot-circular.png\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n