The head of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is scrambling to reverse course after a firestorm of criticism over the festival’s decision to pull a documentary on Hamas’s October 7 massacre from its lineup.

Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s CEO, issued a statement Wednesday apologizing for the controversy and pledging to work with the filmmakers of The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue to get the movie back on the big screen.

“My intention was to screen The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, which is why I extended the invitation for the film to participate in this year’s festival,” Bailey said. “Given the sensitive and significant nature of the film’s subject, I believe that it tells an important story and contributes to the rich tapestry of perspectives in our lineup — stories that resonate both here at home and around the world.”

The documentary follows retired Israeli Maj. Gen. Noam Tibon, who raced into danger to rescue his son, journalist Amir Tibon, and his family as Hamas-led terrorists stormed their home on Kibbutz Nachal Oz on October 7. The film contains harrowing footage shot by the attackers themselves, capturing the atrocities as they committed them.

According to figures connected to the production, TIFF officials said the film was pulled over “copyright concerns” tied to the fact that the filmmakers did not secure permission from the Hamas terrorists whose clips appear in the documentary. Bailey, however, pushed back hard against accusations of censorship, calling them “unequivocally false.”

The decision sparked condemnation from Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Canadian Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, both of which blasted the removal as an affront to truth-telling about the massacre.

Bailey said TIFF’s legal team is now working with the filmmakers to “consider all options available” to meet the festival’s screening requirements. He urged the public to grant “patience and understanding as we navigate this complex landscape.”

“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,” Bailey said.

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