Installment #1: The refusal to air this documentary
From Johnny Oleksinski’s article for the New York Post:
A new documentary about the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas has been booted from the Toronto International Film Festival — because organizers insist the filmmakers need the rights from the terrorist group to use their horrific footage of the massacre.
The festival claims the movie, called “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” did not meet certain requirements to screen at the prestigious September event, widely attended by Hollywood stars and bigwigs, including not securing so-called “legal clearance” to use Hamas’ livestreamed video of the rape, murder and kidnapping of Jews.
The stunned filmmakers, including Canadian director Barry Avrich, slammed the decision, telling Deadline that TIFF has “defied its mission and censored its own programming by refusing this film.”
Incredible. Would these geniuses also have required permission from hitler to show a documentary about nazi atrocities?
Installment #2: The Canadian Broadcasting Company’s explanation
From Abby Hughes’ article for the CBC:
The Toronto International Film Festival has pulled from its lineup a documentary detailing one family’s experiences of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas over footage rights and security issues, though the festival says it is still trying to work through those concerns with the filmmakers.
In an emailed statement, the filmmaking team behind the documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, acknowledged the cancellation and told CBC News that they were “shocked and saddened” by the festival’s decision.
“Footage rights and security issues”??? Where is specific explanation – i.e. that hamas didn’t approve???
The closest this article comes to telling the truth about why the documentary was bounced comes buried in paragraph 10:
The ultimate dis-invitation, according to Deadline, came over the legal clearance and identification of footage of the attack that was filmed by Hamas.
Is that a clear explanation to you? It sure as eff isn’t to me.
Installment #3: The film festival is embarrassed into reversing its decision
From Hannah Brown’s article in the Jerusalem Post:
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) management has shifted gears about disinviting The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a documentary about the massacre by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and now says that it will work with filmmakers to ensure that the film is screened.
In an email obtained by The Globe and Mail, TIFF management cited concerns about the filmmakers not getting permission for all the clips shown in the film, which Kan News said represented a demand for the filmmakers to obtain permission from Hamas to include clips of the massacre that the terror group filmed and broadcast widely.
The other issue TIFF gave for its decision to disinvite the movie was that “The risk of major, disruptive protest actions around the film’s presence at the Festival, including internal opposition, has become too great.” But on Wednesday night, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey released a statement, posted on Instagram, saying, “The situation calls for compassion and sensitivity, and I recognize the concerns it has raised among members of the Jewish community and beyond.
Translation: the film festival got so much blowback on its imbecilic decision to worry more abut hamas’ sensibilities than the October 7 massacre that it had to “bite the bullet” by reversing field and including it.
Unbelievable series of events?
No, this is about Israel. So it is perfectly believable. And you can expect more of it in the future.
