Entertainment leaders from around the globe including Amy Schumer, Debra Messing, Mayim Bialik, Jerry O’Connell, Howie Mandel, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sherry Lansing, Haim Saban, Rebecca De Mornay, Rick Rosen, Gary Barber, Ben Silverman amongst many others, call on accountability from TIFF
LOS ANGELES, August 15, 2025 – More than 1000 entertainment leaders signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) critiquing the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)’s handling of the film, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.
The letter comes in response to TIFF “disinviting” the film and then following public backlash, offering to “work with the filmmakers” to meet screening requirements. It’s clear that this was never about legal rights to footage, but rather appeasing anti-Israel and antisemitic activists’ intent to silence Jewish voices.
TIFF’s attempt to disinvite the documentary is part of a growing trend of silencing Jewish and Israeli voices under the excuse of “security concerns.” Rather than standing steadfast against violent intimidation and protecting filmmakers, TIFF gave cover to those who make threats.
Co-Founders of MRC, Modi Wizyck and Asif Satchu, said: “TIFF has championed AMERICAN FICTION, FAIR PLAY, KNIVES OUT and THE BLACKENING, some of MRC’s most provocative and complex films. We are glad that TIFF has reconsidered to ensure that the festival continues to be a haven for art and artists that embody diverse perspectives – especially on contentious topics.”
TIFF’s attempt to disinvite the firm coincides with an explosion of antisemitism in Canada. In 2024, despite making up 1% of the population, Jewish people were the group most targeted by hate crimes in Canada. The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue is not a political film. If focuses on a heroic story of Jewish survival. Based on their reporting around TIFF’s decision to include the film in the festival, it appears the story of Jewish survival is deemed controversial to many within TIFF.
The letter highlights previous communications given by TIFF leadership that they’d stand firm in the face of political pressures, stating: “Last year, Creative Community for Peace and other entertainment industry leaders urged TIFF leadership to provide a platform for Israeli and Israeli-themed projects. TIFF leadership “assured” us they would do so “even in difficult times like this.” That assurance was apparently a lie.”
CCFP Executive Director Ari Ingel said, “This incident is not an anomaly—it is part of a disturbing pattern that has emerged since October 7th, in which Israeli and Jewish creatives in film, television, music, sports, and literature are confronted with barriers no other community is made to face. The deliberate effort to marginalize and silence Jewish voices in the arts worldwide is intolerable, and it cannot be allowed to persist.”
The letter states: “While the film has been reinstated after a significant public backlash, the festival has not offered a sincere apology or explanation for the harm it created for the Jewish community.”
A spokesperson from The Brigade said, “While TIFF’s choice to initially allow hate to prevail and undermined its own stated mission “to present transformative film experiences that enlighten, enrich understanding, and foster empathy and foster an environment of constructive and respectful dialogue” was egregious, It was also encouraging to see such a diverse set of voices come together to ensure that the film gets a worthy premiere. The Brigade will continue to work in collaboration with many others that support filmmakers who are facing these challenges, to ensure that other festivals practice real inclusion and that these actions are not normalized.”
The letter concludes: “We call on the Board of Directors to question the leadership of TIFF, to platform Israeli voices moving forward, and to choose dialogue over exclusion and peace over prejudice.”
Signatories Include:
Amy Schumer, Actress; Debra Messing, Actress; Mayim Bialik, Actress; Sherry Lansing, Former CEO of Paramount Pictures; Rebecca De Mornay, Actress; Jennifer Jason Leigh, Actress; Howie Mandel, TV Host; Jerry O’Connell, Actor; Gary Barber, Chairman and CEO, Spyglass Media Group; Ben Silverman; Chairman & Co-CEO, Propagate Content; Haim Saban, Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group; Modi Wiczyk, Co-Founder, MRC; Michael Rotenberg, Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment; Nancy Mendelson Gates, Agent, Partner, UTA; Susan Rovner, Former Chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming; Jonathan Baruch, President, Rain Management Group; Marty Singer, Attorney, Lavely and Singer; Patti Felker, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan; Fred Toczek, Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan; Jacob Fenton, Partner, United Talent Agency; Nancy Spielberg, Producer; Rick Rosen, Co-Founder, Endeavor; Lawrence Bender, Producer; Howard Owen, Founder and Co-CEO of Propagate Content; David Renzer, Former Chairman/CEO Universal Music Publishing; Erik Feig, CEO Picturestart; Neil Blair, Partner, The Blair Partnership; John Ondrasik, Five for Fighting; Leo Pearlman, Co-CEO, Fulwell Entertainment; Fernando Szew, CEO, FOX Entertainment Global; David Kohan, Showrunner and Executive Producer; Blair Kohan, Partner and Board Member, United Talent Agency; Julie Greenwald, Former CEO/Chairperson Atlantic Records Group; Emmanuelle Chriqui, Actress; Todd Moscowitz, Founder and CEO of Alamo Records and Santa Anna Label Group; David Draiman, Artist; Danny Cohen, President of Access Entertainment; Kevin Yorn, Attorney; Tracy Ann Oberman, Actress and Playwright; Orly Marley, President, Tuff Gong Worldwide; Ryan Kavanaugh, Relativity Media; Matisyahu, Artist; and over 1000 others.
To see the full list of signees, visit: CCFPeace.org/?TIFF
