A documentary that was almost turned away from screening at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival is coming to a theater near you, and soon. After a successful (if fraught) launch at TIFF earlier this week, “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” is opening in theaters next month, with most of its release being handled by its own team.
The documentary about the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel and a former Israeli general who took it upon himself to save his family, will open exclusively in theaters on October 3. Rather than be acquired by a distributor, the filmmakers are partnering with Forston Consulting in the U.S. and Cineplex Pictures in Canada to effectively self-release the movie. The film has over 125 prints, and they’ll be targeting rollouts in the top 20 markets in North America.
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“The Road Between Us” is directed by Barry Avrich and follows Noam Tibon, a retired Israeli general who rescued his two granddaughters from the Nova music festival on October 7 after receiving a desperate text from his son saying that terrorists had stormed his home. Tibon spent 10 hours on a solo mission navigating roadblocks and danger in order to rescue his family, and the film allows Tibon to retrace his steps and re-enact what he saw. The film also has released its first trailer, which you can watch below.
“When I first heard Noam’s story, I knew it was not just a story of one man’s courage, but of family, resilience, and the choices we make in the face of terror,” Avrich said in a statement. “This film retraces an extraordinary day but also reflects the broader human capacity for bravery and love in the darkest of moments. I am honored to share this story with audiences across North America and grateful to our partners who believed in its importance from the very beginning.”
The movie screened at TIFF in the Roy Thomson Hall to a sold-out crowd on Wednesday, September 10, with Avrich, producer Mark Selby, and subjects Tibon and Gali Mir-Tibon all in attendance. But as IndieWire previously reported, that premiere was nearly in question. In August, we reported that an invite for the movie had been pulled by the festival after it failed to meet the festival’s requirements. It was never formally announced as a festival selection, but TIFF had in fact extended an invitation to the movie and worked with filmmakers to get it accepted.
A TIFF rep at the time told IndieWire that the film contained footage that was not cleared legally and that the festival was concerned for the “potential threat of significant disruption.” That statement didn’t sit well with the community or with the filmmakers, who called it “censorship” on the part of the festival. Festival head Cameron Bailey later clarified why the film’s invitation was withdrawn, and a day later, they had worked with the filmmakers to resolve the legal issues and admit it.
The release is also being supported by The Impact Series, a social-issue–focused organization committed to using film as a catalyst for awareness and action.
