WARMINGTON: TIFF film censorship shows Toronto's antisemitism to the world

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There comes a point when Toronto is going to have to decide to not let Hamas run the city anymore.

Perhaps the absurd and insulting censorship of The Road Between Us at the Toronto International Film Festival making the front page of the New York Post and being mocked by other media and organizations around the world will finally be that time?

“Show no evil,” screamed the New York Post’s headline of TIFFs decision to pull the Barry Avrich film that depicts a rescue of a Jewish family during the Oct. 7, 2023 slaughter by Hamas in Israel.

The subhead read: “Hamas didn’t give permission.”

Hamas and its behind-the-scenes funding sources have been running things for too long in Toronto. They control the streets and do whatever they want, when they want. Jews in Toronto no longer feel safe in their own city as they endure constant harassment, see their schools shot up, synagogues and shops vandalized, and are even shunned by the mayor who didn’t attend the one-year anniversary of the murderous pogrom that saw more than 1,200 Jews and internationals slaughtered and many more taken hostage.

Some don’t want that story told. But trying to suppress what Hamas and its antisemitic backers did doesn’t change the dark reality.

But TIFF, as of this filing, we’re still digging in.

“Claims that the film was rejected due to censorship are unequivocally false,” says TIFF president Cameron Bailey.

While writing he wanted to “express my sincere apologies for any pain this may have caused” the Jewish community, Bailey is still of the view they “remain committed to working with the filmmaker to meet TIFF’s screening requirements” for it to be shown at next month’s festival.

In other words, they have final cut.

Many see this as Hamas effectively having final say.

The notion that there needs to be permission to use Hamas footage is nothing more than a smokescreen to try to find a way to shelve this important story showing the barbarism of that day.

The rewriting of history has been ongoing. But as long as taxpayers are involved in funding this festival, the party should come to end immediately.

The apology from Bailey for any pain this has caused is not an apology.

And the damage is done no matter what happens next. Not just to the festival but to the city.

Unless there is a fast reversal and actual apology, private and taxpayer sponsorships will rightfully be at risk.

And resignations and or firings should be next.

“This is a terrible situation that should never have happened,” said Paul Godfrey, former Metro Toronto chair and Postmedia founder. “It has embarrassed Toronto.”

Godfrey said the city and his “close friend” Avrich deserve immediate apologies and the film should be aired as planned.

“It’s a terrible slap in the face to Barry, who has brought fame and honour to the Toronto International Film Festival. This is not acceptable,” said Godfrey. “It’s an idiotic move. If this is not reversed, some of the board members should be ashamed of themselves and resign.”

“Now more than ever the Jewish community needs its allies to stand up and voice their concern over the hate and division permeating in our society,” B’nai Brith said in a statement.

“TIFF’s decision to rescind its invitation to screen The Road Between Us at its upcoming festival is not just an insult to the Jewish community, it is an affront to Canadian values. The silencing of Jewish voices and marginalization of our narratives jeopardizes the vitality of our entire society.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs added, “We cannot let this stand, demand TIFF reverse this decision now.”

Calling it “shameful censorship,” Meir Weinstein of Israel Now said he expects hundreds to attend a protest outside the TIFF office at King and John Sts. Thursday night at 7.

This is a runway scandal that has badly embarrassed Toronto. It calls for Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney to weigh in.

While Bailey has asked for “compassion” and “sensitivity” and “patience,” he really is in no position to be making any more decisions on this matter. He has messed it up beyond repair.

With the cancellation of last year’s “Russians at War” film and now this, it’s clear TIFF is not a place where free ideas are allowed to be expressed.

The world sees the front-page coverage Bailey and TIFF can’t control.

The signal is clear to the Jewish community and to the world — that the history of Oct 7 can only make its way onto the prestigious film festival schedule as long as Hamas gives permission.

Now is the time to show Hamas and to express to the world that the evil terrorists who perpetrated the black sabbath on Oct. 7 are not in charge here.

Or are they?

jwarmington@postmedia.com