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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.”


  TIFF barred a documentary about October 7 from its 2025 film festival. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP TIFF barred a documentary about October 7 from its 2025 film festival. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

  TIFF claimed the filmmakers did not get legal clearance to use Hamas’ footage of the Oct. 7 attack. AP TIFF claimed the filmmakers did not get legal clearance to use Hamas’ footage of the Oct. 7 attack. AP

Indeed, TIFF states on its website, “we will defend artistic excellence and artistic freedom.”

Avrich declined to comment further.

“The Road Between Us” tells the story of retired Israel Defense Forces Gen. Noam Tibon, who set out to save his family and others during Hamas’ deadly attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

It includes widely seen videos taken by the terrorists of their murders of Israelis at the Nova music festival and in nearby communities.

While TIFF alleges it required permission from Hamas to use the footage, the documentary’s line producer, Talia Harris Ram, told the Times of Israel that the rationale was ridiculous.


  A Hamas terrorist holding up a baby who was abducted. Hamas online A Hamas terrorist holding up a baby who was abducted. Hamas online

  Hamas terrorists driving a truck carrying a captured Israeli after the Oct. 7 attacks. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Hamas terrorists driving a truck carrying a captured Israeli after the Oct. 7 attacks. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

  A woman fleeing the site of the Nova music festival during the terror attack.
 A woman fleeing the site of the Nova music festival during the terror attack.

“The topic of creators’ rights is something I work with regularly,” she said. “There’s no legal problem with showing these clips, which were already streamed live on October 7. From an intellectual property standpoint, they are clearly in the public domain.”

The Post has also learned the film had insurance that protected both its creators and the festival from potential lawsuits.

Some sources told Deadline the festival pulled the doc out of concern that potential anti-Israel protests would form in crowded downtown Toronto.


  An Israeli woman getting abducted on the back of a motorcycle by Hamas near Kfar Azza kibbutz. AP Photo/Hatem Ali An Israeli woman getting abducted on the back of a motorcycle by Hamas near Kfar Azza kibbutz. AP Photo/Hatem Ali

  Hamas terrorists cheering on top of a burning Israeli tank near the border of the southern Gaza Strip. Yasser 24 / SplashNews.com Hamas terrorists cheering on top of a burning Israeli tank near the border of the southern Gaza Strip. Yasser 24 / SplashNews.com

  Israeli woman Naama Levy getting abducted on Oct. 7.
 Israeli woman Naama Levy getting abducted on Oct. 7.

The bottom of TIFF’s statement suggests that’s the case, citing the “potential threat of significant disruption” due to a documentary concerning “highly sensitive subject matter.”

TIFF did not respond to The Post’s request for further comment.

The “Road Between Us” filmmakers said they tried to meet TIFF’s demands.

For instance, the trade reported the festival asked the filmmakers to change the movie’s title from “Out of Nowhere” to “The Road Between Us.” They complied with the request.


  The documentary is about retired Israel Defense Forces Gen. Noam Tibon. Getty Images The documentary is about retired Israel Defense Forces Gen. Noam Tibon. Getty Images

But their invitation was nonetheless snatched back on Monday.

Sources told The Post that, after backlash resulting from the film’s removal, the TIFF board of directors planned a meeting to discuss the fallout.

The “Road Between Us” team insisted they were only depicting a man’s story — a man who was also profiled on “60 Minutes.”

“We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers,” they said in their statement. “We remain defiant, we will release the film, and we invite audiences, broadcasters, and streamers to make up their own mind, once they have seen it.”


  A Hamas terrorist throwing a grenade into a shelter where people were hiding at the Nova festival. X/@manniefabian A Hamas terrorist throwing a grenade into a shelter where people were hiding at the Nova festival. X/@manniefabian

  The belongings of festivalgoers at the scene of the attack at the Nova festival. REUTERS The belongings of festivalgoers at the scene of the attack at the Nova festival. REUTERS

Deadline reported that the documentary’s producers were asked by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey to voluntarily withdraw, but they refused.

Tibon, the doc’s subject, decried the cancellation.

“The festival management’s claim that the film cannot be screened because ‘permissions to use’ the footage of the Nukhba terrorists were not obtained is absurd and bizarre, and constitutes further harm to the victims,” he told the Times of Israel.

“My message to the festival management: The truth cannot be erased. The atrocities committed by Hamas cannot be erased or denied.”

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