A documentary about a retired Israeli general’s efforts to rescue his family from the October 7 Hamas attacks premiered under heavy police presence on Wednesday, after initially being cut from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lineup.

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators faced off outside the venue before the screening of “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” which charts how retired Israeli general Noam Tibon saved his family and others during the 2023 Hamas attack.

The Canadian-produced film drew significant attention ahead of TIFF, after it was briefly withdrawn from the festival.

Organizers cited a lack of “legal clearance” for certain footage used, triggering protests from more than 1,000 entertainment industry figures including Amy Schumer and Debra Messing, who signed a petition accusing TIFF of silencing Jewish voices.

TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey denied reports that director Barry Avrich was asked to secure rights to use actual Hamas bodycam footage of the atrocities, during which Palestinian terrorists killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages, starting the ongoing war in Gaza.

“At no point did we ask the filmmakers to seek approval or clearance from Hamas, a terrorist organization,” Bailey told the Globe and Mail newspaper this week.

“That is, of course, something that we wouldn’t do.”

Before introducing the film on Wednesday, Bailey conceded TIFF mishandled the film’s submission process.

“I want to apologize, especially to the Jewish community, for mistakes I made in the lead up to this day,” he told a packed 2,000-seat venue in downtown Toronto.

The film recounts Tibon’s journey from Tel Aviv to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz on the border with Gaza, where his son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters were hiding in a safe room after Hamas fighters entered the community.

Avrich said he was drawn to the story as a father, and that it does not have a political message.

“This film is wrapped in the flag of a family,” he told the premiere audience.

He also said he did not object to peaceful protests.

“I ultimately wish anybody that’s protesting this film watches it first. Then let’s have a conversation,” Avrich said on the red carpet. “In the world right now we need to hear stories of family and unity and that’s what this movie is about.”

Around 20 protesters showed up ahead of the screening of Barry Avrich’s film at the Roy Thompson Hall Theatre, chanting “All the Zionists are racists.”

Protesting outside the venue, Palestinian-Canadian Bassem Ramli told AFP he was not objecting to the contents of the film specifically, but opposed TIFF’s decision to allow the former Israeli army general on its red carpet.

“This person does not deserve to be celebrated as a hero, let alone at this time,” the 39-year-old said.

“Would it be OK to have, say, a senior Russian general being right now celebrated as a hero? I don’t think this is something that would be really accepted,” he added.

Waving an Israeli flag outside the theater, Jeffrey Raphael teared up when asked about the anger surrounding the film.

“I understand there is perspective from Palestinians in the film festival, so why can’t we hear other perspectives?” the 55-year-old said.

An estimated 50 Toronto police officers were in attendance, and as arguments escalated between the two groups, the cops separated them to opposite sides of the street. Protests continued ahead of the sold-out screening.

During the post-premiere Q&A, when the moderator mentioned the Palestinian toll from the Israeli offensive, which unverified figures from the Hamas-health ministry that don’t differentiate between civilians and combatants put at over 64,000, substantial numbers of the apparently pro-Israeli audience booed and jeered.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.